Turning point for star juvenile ‘Blue’

Traditionally, this is the end-of-season contest that determines Europe's best two-year-old, and again, it is no different to those in the immediate past.

It is in this context that Godolphin's highly-regarded Blue Point faces six rivals in Saturday's G1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, over seven furlongs at Newmarket -- and, in a sense, it is the colt's most important race to date.

Charlie Appleby has already hinted that a sprinting campaign is probably on the cards for Blue Point as a three-year-old -- Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup is pencilled in -- but that has not stopped the trainer carrying out one last examination against those with Classic pretentions.

"Obviously, there is a big question mark about the trip. He has shown so much natural speed in his races," Appleby explained. "But, while he is fit and well, it is the time to find out whether he gets it. We feel it is better to do that now," he added.

The alternative would be to put the colt away for the winter and then to run in the early Guineas trials in spring next year before taking a final decision.

"If he stays (the seven furlongs of the Dewhurst), there will be more to talk about (regarding plans), and we will know we have a very serious horse for next year.

"If he doesn't, we will flag up the Commonwealth Cup as the first big target and work back from there," Appleby pointed out.

Blue Point is fit and well, according to his trainer. The colt was beaten three-quarters of a length into second in the six-furlong G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last month but came out of the race well. Previously, he won the G2 Gimcrack Stakes at York.

The Ballydoyle colt Churchill looked to have Classic potential when winning the G1 National Stakes at the Curragh last month, while Rivet took both the Convivial Maiden at York and the G2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster at his two most recent outings.

Both appear strong rivals, and are joined by South Seas, who is unbeaten in three starts, and Seven Heavens, an unbeaten Frankel colt, as well as the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Thunder Snow.

Saeed said of his Godolphin-owned colt: "He has worked well and seems to have improved from his last race (when second to Rivet in Doncaster's Champagne). The track will also suit him.

"I give him a chance but it is a very tough race, a true championship race," he added.