Paul Ferguson offers his selection of Flat stars to follow this season
DOLCE COURAGE
John & Thady Gosden 4yo Siyouni gelding
Unraced as a two-year-old and gelded before he made his debut in the October of his Classic season, Dolce Courage won two all-weather novice contests last winter and looks to be a promising horse for handicaps this season. Held-up over 7f at Southwell on debut, he came from off the pace to run down the placed horses and the runner-up has advertised the form by winning twice since (latterly at Kempton in mid-March). He is now rated 91, whilst the winner gave 7lb to the 88-rated Leadman when racing more prominently over a mile at Newcastle. The pair drew a long way (8 lengths) clear and despite the weight disparity between the two, Dolce Courage has been handed an opening mark of 89. Bred to stay further, it will be no surprise if he progress through the handicap ranks in the coming months and as such, he is the only ‘older’ horse among this year’s list.
ENDLESS VICTORY
Charlie Appleby 3yo Teofilo colt
A full-brother to 2018 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter, he followed in his sibling’s hoofprints by making a winning racecourse debut at Wolverhampton. Whilst Cross Counter was a two-time winner during the winter (once as a two-year-old and once the following January), Endless Victory made his first appearance on the track during the February of his three-year-old campaign and he had a more-fancied stablemate back in third when powering clear to win by the best part of five lengths. That debut success came over 1m1½f and he looks sure to stay much further. Given that he holds an entry in the Derby, he will likely be considered for a recognised trial, although he also has the option of running in another novice contest before being upped in class. If he doesn’t look like developing into a Classic contender, he could end up down the handicap route and something like the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot – a race in which Cross Counter finished fourth – could become a more realistic option.
INDELIBLE
Ralph Beckett 3yo Shamardal filly
Ralph Beckett has a fine record with high-class fillies and he could have another on his hands in the shape of Indelible. Out of the high-class race mare Midday, she boasts a lovely pedigree and was successful on her second start at two. Having shown promise over 7f on soft ground at Salisbury, she duly took a step forward to run out a 1¼-length winner on the all-weather at Lingfield. Pushed along around the home bend, the daughter of Shamardal really found her stride inside the final couple of furlongs and was well on top at the line. Whilst she holds an entry in the 1,000 Guineas, it could be that she improves again once upped to 10f (and, possibly, beyond) and she threatens to develop into a pattern-class performer.
INISHERIN
Kevin Ryan 3yo Shamardal colt
Another by Shamardal who won at the second attempt, Inisherin belied his odds of 50-1 when finishing runner-up at Newmarket in late-September, where he raced prominently throughout and beat all bar the more-experienced Bellum Justum (had run twice previously and has been handed a handicap mark of 92). He saw out the mile trip well and probably didn’t need to improve on that form to win a Newcastle maiden on his return to action in early-March. Having broken well, he was allowed to stride on by Tom Eaves and only had to be pushed out to quicken away stylishly, recording a comfortable 3½l success. Entered in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish equivalent at the Curragh, he is another who looks sure to stay at least 1m2f and also looks to be a highly-promising colt for races in the north.
IZIPIZI
John & Thady Gosden 3yo Kingman filly
The first of five maidens to feature among this year’s list, Izipizi shaped with considerable promise on her racecourse debut at Kempton in late-December, where she finished runner-up to stablemate Friendly Soul. Taking a keen grip over a mile, she moved well into the home straight and although she couldn’t quite match the winner, she ran on really well and looks to be a surefire future winner. A half-sister to a couple of 2m winners, she is sure to flourish as she goes up to middle-distances and beyond, although her entry in the 1,000 Guineas would suggest that she shows the Gosdens plenty of pace at home. Once she learns to relax with racing, I would expect her to step up in distance and she ought to be well placed, ensuring that she enjoys a fruitful campaign.
KIKKULI
Harry & Roger Charlton 3yo Kingman colt
A Kingman half-brother to Frankel, Kikkuli boasts a lovely pedigree and looks to be another sure-fire winner, judged on his promising second at Newmarket on his sole start at two. Making his racecourse debut over 7f on heavy ground, he enjoyed a nice passage through the race and once angled off the rail, ran on well to take second, despite looking as though he wasn’t enjoying the testing conditions. The winner was a previous winner and franked the form by winning a Listed race at Saint-Cloud just a fortnight later, whilst the third-placed horse made a winning reappearance at Doncaster in March. He holds no fancy entries at this stage, so could be brought along slowly by the Charltons, but he looks sure to appreciate a sounder surface and clearly has the pedigree to make up into a very smart three-year-old.
LASTING LOVE
Andrew Balding 3yo Lope de Vega filly
A 300,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 purchase as a yearling, Lasting Love shaped with promise on her sole start at two, finishing third (beaten less than 2l) in a fillies’ maiden at Doncaster. A little slowly away, she moved well just in behind the pace but looked quite green when asked to pick up. Looking a little uncomfortable on soft ground, she really found her stride inside the final half-furlong and finished well. It was an eye-catching performance and one that should stand her in good stead for when she reappears at three. Bred to appreciate both better ground and stepping up to middle-distances, she is another who doesn’t hold any big-race entries at this stage, but is very much one to keep onside during the months ahead. Her full-brother Tenerife Sunshine was a mile maiden winner at two and made a winning reappearance as a three-year-old, when successful in a 1m3f handicap at Kempton last August, from a mark of 82.
MR HAMPSTEAD
Roger Varian 3yo Galileo colt
Initially in training with Dominic French Davis, Mr Hampstead was switched to the yard of Roger Varian prior to making his racecourse debut at Newcastle, where he beat all bar the equally-promising Meydaan, with the pair nicely clear. Like the winner, the Galileo colt holds an entry in the Derby (also entered in the Irish Derby) and he should be difficult to beat in a maiden or novice contest on his return. Making his debut over 1m2f, he was slowly into stride but made eye-catching headway up the home straight, alongside the stands’ side rail. The pair got locked into a protracted battle and whilst he eventually came off second best, there was plenty to like about the debut effort. A full-brother to Savethelastdance, who made a winning return at three (beaten on her sole start at two) before winning last year’s Cheshire Oaks by 22l. Runner-up in the Oaks, she gained Group 1 honours in the Irish equivalent and was clearly at her best on soft ground. With that in mind, Mr Hampstead might also want plenty of juice in the ground, to be seen at his very best.
ROI DE FRANCE
John & Thady Gosden 3yo Sea The Stars colt
The third and final entry from Clarehaven Stables – the Newmarket base of John and Thady Gosden – Roi de France is the fifth and final maiden to feature among this year’s 10 Horses To Follow. From the family of the same connections’ Vaguely Royal (winner of all-weather handicaps over 1m4f last term and now rated 93), the Sea The Stars colt finished runner-up in a Lingfield maiden last November. Quite keen over a mile, he ran on really well – under just a hands-and-heels ride – to take second place, behind a penalised previous winner, who was having his third racecourse start. He had stablemate Majed back in fourth and he won later that month, whilst the fifth also won next time. Whilst he holds an entry in the Derby, it could be that he is another for decent handicaps later in the season, although shedding his maiden tag will be the first target of the campaign. Given his pedigree, it will be interesting to see if he is kept to an all-weather surface for now.
TRUE CYAN
Roger Varian No Nay Never filly
A striking grey, who created a brilliant impression on her racecourse debut, when successful in a 7f maiden at Newmarket in September. Held-up in a big field of 17, she made significant progress down the nearside and really found her stride entering the dip. She picked up really well to win by 1½l, clearly enjoying the quick ground. On a day to remember for owners KHK Racing (the unbeaten Vandeek providing them with Group 1 success in the Middle Park Stakes), she pulled nicely clear of the placed fillies, who both won next time out. She holds an entry in the 1,000 Guineas and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her run in a recognised trial on her return – with the Nell Gwyn or the Fred Darling possible options – although she has the option of running in a novice race, if Roger Varian opts to keep her at a lower level to begin with. She looked Group-class material on debut.
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