With the launch of the 2023 Flat Turf season at Doncaster today there will be a frisson of excitement for the year ahead.
The first Classic, the Qipco 2,000 Guineas is just five weeks away with the Derby a month later followed by Royal Ascot.
As usual there is a lot of expectation around last season’s top performers and gaps to fill with a number of the year’s star performers, including Baaeed, the top rated horse in Europe in 2022, having gone off to stud.
Little Big Bear topped the two-year-old rankings and if will be fascinating to see whether he turns out to be a miler or a sprinter.
THREE YEAR OLDS
AUGUST RODIN (Aidan O’Brien)
The next Nijinsky, Camelot or neither? Aidan O’Brien has namechecked him as a potential Triple Crown horse but he will have to win the 2,000 Guineas for starters. The son of Japanese super sire Deep Impact looked a stronger candidate for the Derby than the Guineas with an impressive winning performance over a mile on heavy ground in the Vertem Futurity. Yet the Newmarket Classic is often the best trial for Epsom.
LITTLE BIG BEAR (Aidan O’Brien)
He could end up being a sprinter but his trainer seems keen to test him at a mile at Newmarket in the 2,000 Guineas first, even against Auguste Rodin. He won four times last year, including over 5f at Royal Ascot, but wasn’t seen again after landing the Group 1 National Stakes by seven lengths in the style of a very smart colt.
MEDITATE (Aidan O’Brien)
Proved herself a tough filly during quite a long and busy campaign which began in April and ended with her capturing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf in November. She won pretty easily and should continue to hold her own in the top fillies races this year with the 1,000 Guineas her first port of call.
SAKHEER (Roger Varian)
A big ticket purchase for his Bahraini royal connections, he set off towards fulfilling his price tag when opening his account in a Haydock novice by six lengths. Next time out he won the Mill Reef Stakes in impressive fashion at Newbury and was due to line up in the Dewhurst Stakes until suffering a late mishap. We may get the chance to see what he could have done in the 2,000 Guineas.
TAHIYRA (Dermot Weld)
The half-sister to Tarnawa had big shoes to fill when she arrived on the scene at Galway in July, where Dermot Weld always shines, but how she delivered, scoring on debut by five and and a half lengths and was then uber-impressive in defeating Meditate in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. She’s been favourite for the 1,000 Guineas ever since and is a live Oaks candidate too. The filly to beat if she turns up at Newmarket in May.
OLDER HORSES
KYPRIOS (Aidan O’Brien)
Has been ruled out of the Ascot Gold Cup due to a recent infection by his trainer and will start his campaign later. Showed he was one of the best horses in Europe, let alone the best stayer, during an unbeaten campaign which ended with a 20 length victory in the Prix du Cadran and there should be more to come.
DESERT CROWN (Sir Michael Stoute)
Last year’s Derby winner didn’t run again after Epsom due to a minor foot injury but has stayed in training. He could not be in better hands for his four-year-old campaign and it would by Sir Michael Stoute's style to start him back in Sandown’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes for his comeback.
MY PROSPERO (William Haggas)
Got better with each start last year, ending the campaign by finishing half a length behind Bay Bridge in the Champion Stakes. With two near-misses at Group 1 level - he was only beaten a neck in the St James’s Palace Stakes - he could be the next Haggas star to make the breakthrough to the top.
HIGHFIELD PRINCESS (John Quinn)
What an outstanding year 2022 was for the rags-to-riches filly. She won three times at Group 1 level, the Nunthorpe the highlight, and finished off with a solid run at the Breeders’ Cup. Can operate from 5f to 7f and should be in for another productive summer in what will be her final season.
KINROSS (Ralph Beckett)
A potential candidate for top older miling honours this year but one who also has plenty to offer over shorter trips. Has won Group 1 races at 6f and 7f and didn’t enjoy the best of runs when third in the Breeders’ Cup mile. Expect him to make up for that this year.
