EKTIHAAM READY FOR DEWHURST TEST

Roger Varian's Ektihaam bids to show he is as good as his home reputation suggests when he takes a big step up in class in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

The youngster certainly looked the real deal when winning a typically warm Newbury maiden on his racecourse debut and he then ran away with the same conditions race at Doncaster that the mighty Frankel had won 12 months earlier.

He will face a far sterner test this weekend with proven Group One winner Power in the line-up but Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, believes the colt is ready to test his powers at the highest level.

"He's done very well so far and we'll see whether he's good enough. It's the same situation for a lot of them and there is no better race to find out," said Gold.

"He's potentially a very nice horse and a big, scopey individual who is very much one for next year.

"But he's got plenty of talent and if he could run well in a Dewhurst it would be a bonus.

"Power is a Group One winner and an established horse and Bronterre has won a Listed race.

"They are all potentially nice horses and we'll see who makes the leap forward.

"Ektihaam is a great big horse and I'm sure if we got some rain overnight that is not going to inconvenience him.

"I'm not saying he needs it easy but he is a big galloping horse and probably wouldn't want it too firm."

Brian Meehan believes Most Improved is of a similar ilk to his other classy juveniles of recent years as he puts his credentials on the line in tomorrow's Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

Meehan has been lucky enough to handle some speedy youngsters like 2008 Racing Post Trophy first and third Crowded House and Skanky Biscuit and 2007 Dewhurst runner-up Fast Company.

With those performances not too long ago, Meehan should have a good idea of what it takes to win the big two-year-old races at the end of the season.

Having just been touched off on his debut at Newmarket, Most Improved then bolted up by five lengths back at Headquarters and the runner-up has since won by a yawning 10-length margin.

"He was so much more effective the second day, and we got a real good look at him," Meehan told the Independent.

"He's a lovely, progressive colt with a wonderful temperament and takes everything in his stride.

"The form is working out great, his work since has been very good, and he reminds me a lot of other good horses we've taken the same kind of route - the likes of Fast Company and Crowded House."

A big two-year-old race would not be the same without a representative from the Richard Hannon yard and he runs two, Bronterre and Trumpet Major.

Bronterre is unbeaten after winning a Salisbury maiden and a Listed event at Goodwood while Trumpet Major landed the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, beating the reopposing Red Duke.

"We run Bronterre (Richard Hughes) and Trumpet Major (Johnny Murtagh) in the Dewhurst Stakes and, though it looks a hot renewal, I could not be happier with them," said Hannon.

"Sure, this is a big jump up in class for Bronterre, but he could not have been more impressive when winning his Listed race at Goodwood by five lengths and though he is just starting to go in his coat, he moved beautifully for Hughesie in a spin up the all-weather at Herridge on Tuesday and seems at the top of his game.

"Trumpet Major showed that his Sandown form was all wrong when he won the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and while we had him entered in what looked a soft Group One in Italy on Sunday, his owner, John Manley, was keen to run here.

"With the 'Major' rated a pound above Bronterre, he is fully entitled to take his chance," he told his website.

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