With Vandeek having claimed the Middle Park Stakes and Porta Fortuna the Cheveley Park Stakes, according to the blog NewBettingOffers, it is now the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket which is beginning to occupy the minds of punters intrigued by the top juvenile talent.

Since its inception in 1875, the race has consistently produced exceptional winners who have gone on to achieve greatness in the world of horse racing. Here, we highlight our eight picks for the best winners in the history of the Dewhurst Stakes – in chronological order.

Ormonde (1885): Ormonde is widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of all time. His victory in the Dewhurst Stakes marked the start of an illustrious unbeaten career, which included wins in the St. Leger and the Derby.

Hyperion (1932): Hailing from the yard of George Lambton, this superstar of the 1930s hinted at what was to come when impressively landing this event. Fast forward to his Classic campaign, and the good-looking Chestnut became a dual Classic winner in the Epsom Derby and St. Leger Stakes. Also a success at stud, he counted the Triple Crown-winning filly, Sun Chariot, amongst his progeny.

Nijinsky (1969): Nijinsky was a true superstar of the turf. His Dewhurst Stakes win was just one of many impressive victories. As of 2023, the son of the legendary Northern Dancer remains the last horse to win the English Triple Crown – a feat he achieved in 1970, alongside victories in the Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Mill Reef (1970): Just one year after Nijinsky came another horse who would go on to etch their name into racing folklore. Mill Reef's win in the Dewhurst Stakes was a sign of the greatness that awaited him. Under the guidance of the great Ian Balding, he went on to win the Epsom Derby, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and numerous other prestigious races, solidifying his status as an all-time great.

Zafonic (1992): Simply sensational during his two-year-old career, Zafonic slammed the field by four lengths in this event en route to being crowned the European Champion Two-Year-Old Colt for 1992. Tasting defeat for the first time on his first start at three, he rebounded in devastating style to claim 2000 Guineas gold in a course record time.

Rock Of Gibraltar (2001): Part owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, this son of Danehill took this event as the second leg in a remarkable sequence of 7 consecutive Group 1 wins. Returning as a three-year-old to deny his stablemate Hawk Wing by a neck in the 2000 Guineas, he added the Irish 2000, St. James’s Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, and Prix Du Moulin to his haul.

New Approach (2007): Trained by the great Jim Bolger, this son of Galileo made it a perfect five from five for his debut season when getting up late to deny Fast Company in this event. Launching his three-year-old season with runners-up finishes in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, he came into his own when stepped up in distance – winning the Epsom Derby and the English and Irish versions of the Champion Stakes.

Frankel (2010): Frankel won 14 races during his immaculate career and is rated the greatest winner of all 14. The highest-rated horse in the history of the ratings system and the apple of the late Sir Henry Cecil’s eye, Galileo’s most brilliant son claimed the first of his ten career Group 1 wins when winning this in a canter.

Pinatubo (2019): Like the volcano after which he was named, the Charlie Appleby-trained Pinatubo exploded onto the scene in 2019. A hugely precocious son of the great Shamardal, he blitzed through the division on his way to the Champion Two-Year-Old title and a higher juvenile rating than even Frankel achieved. That dominance receded at three, but he added the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat to his CV before retiring to a life at stud.