NEWMARKET (ROWLEY) 15:00

All 9 ran.

Time: 1m 23.39s Closing Sectional: (3f): 34.7s (103%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 115%, Betfair SP 101.3%

The biggest-priced Dewhurst winner since Beethoven in 2009, but Gewan had been looking potentially high-class prior to a short-priced disappointment in the Champagne Stakes and showed form well up to standard for the race, if below the level achieved by superior recent winners City of Troy, Pinatubo and Too Darn Hot, the fact the top 3 in the betting completed the frame in the same order suggesting substance to the form; a few went freely early, notably Gstaad, but the pace lifted far enough out to make for a fair test and the form is underpinned by the timefigure.

GEWAN got well and truly back on track, a surprise according to the betting, though he'd very much been going the right way prior to his Champagne Stakes disappointment and it's perhaps significant that he was notably more relaxed in preliminaries this time compared to Doncaster, making this look altogether straightforward; soon travelling well close up, making progress to lead 2f out and never really looking like getting caught, edging over to the stand rail and driven out as the runner-up closed the gap; he'll stay 1m and, with little reason to think he won't train on, enters winter quarters as a leading 2000 Guineas contender, his path so far almost identical to that followed by his stable's 2023 Guineas winner Chaldean.

GSTAAD was the pick on looks and might still prove the best of these, never getting to the winner but running at least as well as previously despite taking until halfway to settle properly, that keenness probably affecting his ability to pick up in the closing stages; mid-division, not settle fully, effort over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on; though his pedigree is mostly speed, he's very likely to stay 1m and he should be back at this track in the spring as a big player in the 2000 Guineas.

DISTANT STORM ran creditably, not quickening in the same way as when thrashing merely useful rivals over C&D at the end of September but sticking to the task and still with good prospects of making up into a very smart 3-y-o, including up at 1m; held up, headway on inner under 2f out, took third final 1f, ran on.

ZAVATERI (IRE) lost his unbeaten record, falling a little below the level that had seen him edge out Gstaad in the National Stakes, not relishing the Dip, though he doesn't have quite the physical quality of some of the others and perhaps lacks some of their potential heading into 2026; mid-division, ridden over 2f out, wandered approaching final 1f, took fourth final 100 yds, one paced.

OXAGON (FR) wasn't quite up to the task but ran well on form, holding his own until entering the final 1f; prominent, effort 2f out, no extra last ½f; it'd be a surprise if he doesn't make up into a smart 3-y-o..

ALPARSLAN (IRE) needed to improve plenty and found a little rather than a lot, just not up to the task up markedly in grade; prominent, ridden over 2f out, edged left, not quicken; a well-made colt who moved fluently around the paddock, he may do better still with his sights lowered.

PACIFIC AVENUE (IRE) back down in trip, wasn't up to the task, setting the pace but quickly done for once headed; raced wide, made running, headed 2f out, weakened final 1f.

ITALY underperformed, again leaving the impression there are some flaws in his make-up; slowly into stride, raced well off the pace, not settle fully, made little impression.

SABA DESERT in first-time cheekpieces, again failed to beat a rival in a Group 1; in touch, not settle fully, ridden over 2f out, lost place quickly.