There was a 25/1 upset in the £500,000 Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, as Gewan took the spoils in the seven-furlong contest.

The success continues the fine run of form for his sire Night Of Thunder, who currently leads the sires’ championship.

The winner of his first two starts at Newbury and in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York, following which he was purchased by his current owner Zhang Yuesheng, the two-year-old had disappointed last time out when starting 6/5 favourite but finishing a well-beaten fourth last time out in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last month.

Partnered today by James Doyle, Gewan took up the running approaching the final two furlongs and stayed on well to see off 7/4 favourite Gstaad by three-quarters of a length.

It was a second Darley Dewhurst Stakes for his trainer Andrew Balding after Chaldean in 2022.

Andrew Balding said: “I think he was overpriced today. His York performance was very good, and I think you have got to forgive him Doncaster. I don’t think it was just the ground at Doncaster, but for some reason he just wasn’t at his best. He was today.

“He had been working very well, and we weren’t without a hope. He was given a brilliant ride and is a very good horse,

“He and Chaldean are very similar. The only thing this horse hasn’t done is win at Doncaster, but they have followed the same route.

“It’s an important win because you need top horses and he is a good horse.

“Mr Yuesheng’s son-in-law is here today. I’ve had a few for them and they have been brilliant owners – they took the defeat at Doncaster without flinching. That enabled us to kick on and stick with our plan to come here.

“Hopefully he is a Guineas horse. Whether we go straight there – we’ll find out.”

Jockey James Doyle added: “That was a nice Brucey bonus! I was very lucky to get the ride on him, and he did an impeccable job I thought.

“He coped with the track quite well and I actually had room. When you have room here and you are able to go forward, I was able to let him run down the camber. Once he got that rail, he stuck at it very well.

“A big thank you to Andew Balding and connections for letting me ride him.

“He felt good and there was no fluke whatsoever about that. He went off at a silly price but only had one blip on his record on slow ground. It was pretty quick out there today for this time of year, but he pointed his toe well and felt like a good horse.”