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HORSES TO FOLLOW – FLAT 2021 100 WINNERS HORSES TO FOLLOW – FLAT 2021

Fifty-ninth year of publication

Contributors: Rodney Pettinga Richard Young 100 WINNERS HORSES TO FOLLOW – FLAT 2021 (ages as at 2021)

ADAYAR (IRE) 3 b c Frankel - Anna Salai (Dubawi) This Frankel colt out of a Group Three winner over 1m in France ran just twice last season, both times over 1m at Nottingham. Well backed on his debut in mid-October, he was slowly into stride, stumbled at about halfway and very much looked in need of the experience as he finished a well-beaten fourth of eleven. He reappeared just two weeks later and clearly had benefitted massively from that initial experience as he hosed up by nine lengths in what was, on paper, a slightly stronger race. A couple of the beaten horses have won since to give the form a solid look too. He stayed the mile well, but it will be over middle distances that he will probably find his niche as a three-year-old (he holds an Irish Derby entry). William Buick, who rode him on both of his starts, said after the Nottingham romp: ‘He’s a lovely looking colt, well-bred and will be a nice horse for next year.’ CHARLIE APPLEBY (IRE) 3 b f - Plying () After winning a maiden at Newbury in August which worked out exceptionally well, Alcohol Free ran in the Group Three Dick Poole Stakes at Salisbury where she narrowly lost out to Happy Romance, the winner of the Weatherbys Super Sprint earlier in the season and a rival with far more experience, having run five times previously. Alcohol Free clearly learned plenty from that race as she took on better fillies in the Group One (6f) on her next assignment and she passed the test with flying colours as she gamely saw off Miss Amulet and Umm Kulthum in a thrilling finish. Her half-sibling Alexander James was a winner over 1m and 1m1f and it seems likely that this filly will now be stepped up to a mile, with the 1,000 Guineas looking a realistic early-season target. She’s currently around 20/1 for that contest. ANDREW BALDING

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ALOE VERA 5 b f Invincible Spirit - Almiranta (Galileo) Assuming she stands up to the rigours of training, Aloe Vera is just the type to make up into a Group-winning performer over middle distances this season. Considered too backward to run as a juvenile, Ralph Beckett’s mare quickly made up for lost time when winning a Chepstow maiden and the Listed Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood on her first two racecourse starts in May 2019. However, she didn’t see the track again until late September last year, where she confirmed she retained at least all her ability when chasing home a smart Charlie Appleby six-year-old in Walton Street (a Dubai winner this January) when upped to 1m4f for the first time in the Listed Godolphin Stakes at Newmarket. Although the remainder of the season passed her by, she remains open to plenty of further improvement and, given she’s well worth a try over further, a race like the Group Three Bronte Cup over a trip just shy of 1m6f for fillies and mares at York’s Dante meeting in May could be a useful and informative starting point. RALPH BECKETT ALPINE STAR (IRE) 4 ch f Sea The Moon - Alpha Lupi (Rahy) Although she won just one of her four starts in 2020, Alpine Star nevertheless enhanced her reputation with a trio of near- misses against some top-notch rivals, most of whom went on to confirm the form in no uncertain terms. Her sole win came in the in June, where she put four and a quarter lengths and more between herself and her rivals, emulating her half-sister Alpha Centauri, who won the same race in 2018. Next, she went to France in July, where she lost out by a head to Fancy Blue in the Prix De Diane over 1m2f 110y, and that filly franked the form next time by winning the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. After that she ran in the Jacques Le Marois over 1m in August, where she lost out by three quarters of a length to St James’s Palace Stakes hero Palace Pier, with Circus Maximus five lengths behind her in third and subsequent Prix Du Moulin winner Persian King a further three lengths behind in fourth. Finally, she took on Tarnawa in the Prix de l’Opera on Arc day where she lost out by a head, with Audarya a length behind in third. Those two rivals went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf respectively next time out. Alpine Star battled her heart out in each of those three defeats and she richly deserves to pick up the winning thread again as she resumes her career at four. JESSICA HARRINGTON

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ANGEL POWER 4 b f Lope De Vega - Burning Rules (Aussie Rules) This daughter of Lope De Vega had a fantastic three-year-old season with five wins from seven starts, including four from four after she was stepped up to around 1m2f in August. Her first win came in a novice stakes over 1m at Chelmsford in June, after which she finished runner-up in a pair of 1m handicaps at Haydock and Goodwood. She next ran in a fillies’ handicap over 1m2f at York off 91 and routed the opposition by three and a half lengths and more. After that she went to France and won a Listed race in early September, which prompted her connections to step up to Group Three company at Newmarket. She took it in her stride, beating 13 rivals with ease. She added a Group Two in Italy with similar ease in November, a performance which suggests there is more to come at four. After her Newmarket romp Roger Varian said, ‘Angel Power is admirable and tough as old boots and has done nothing but improve and I couldn’t be more pleased with how her season has gone. I think she will be even better next year.’ ROGER VARIAN ANNANDALE (IRE) 3 ch c Australia - Fountain Of Honour (Sadler’s Wells) The end-of-term report concerning Annandale’s juvenile record could read ‘Progressive sort. Has done everything asked of him. Likely to do a good deal better at three.’ That’s a tag that has been applicable to a huge number of horses from the Mark Johnston yard down the years and there’s every reason to think he’s up to winning a good- quality handicap over middle distances and beyond in 2021. The colt didn’t necessarily have to step up on the form of his pleasing debut third at Ayr’s prestigious Western Meeting to win over 1m2f at Bath on ground that was just on the easy side in October. While the bare facts of that win are nothing out of the ordinary, he did show a good attitude, something that was also in evidence when he followed up on his AW debut and returned to 1m on his nursery debut at Newcastle on his final juvenile start, when allowed to dictate his own fractions. Given he’s by Australia out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and that he’s a half-brother to the owner’s 2m soft-ground winner Three Castles, a good test of stamina is likely to suit and he’s one to note from his current mark of 78. MARK JOHNSTON ART POWER (IRE) 4 gr c Dark Angel - Evening Time (Keltos) One of the most taking handicap performances of the season was Art Power’s demolition job of a competitive field in the first

5 100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021 running of the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap over 5f at Royal Ascot last summer. Of course, subsequent events have shown he was a Group horse posing as a handicapper but the form stacks up as he gave both weight and a ready beating that day to a tough and reliable yardstick in Keep Busy, who went on to finish a close second in a Group One at the Curragh. Tim Easterby’s sprinter then showed that he was just as good over 6f when bagging a Group Three in Ireland but 5f on a sound surface on York’s speed- favouring task was totally against him and he managed only sixth behind Champion Sprinter Battaash in the Nunthorpe in August. However, he showed that to be all wrong on his final two starts of 2020 in Group One events back over 6f (both run on soft ground). He’s still relatively lightly raced and he’s very much the type to develop into an even better sprinter this time round. The Group Two Duke Of York Stakes over 6f back at the Yorkshire venue in May could be a good place to start the campaign (four-year-old have won the last four renewals), especially if there is give in the ground. TIM EASTERBY BABY ALYA (IRE) 3 ch f Rio De La Plata - Queen’s Logic (Grand Lodge) Baby Alya has some way to go before she matches the achievements of her illustrious parents, but she got her career off to the perfect start when winning a maiden for fillies over 7f on Tapeta at Newcastle on her debut in early September. Despite a tardy start and her apparent greenness when first asked to go about her business, she picked up really well in the last furlong before hitting the front in the shadow of the post. That form has since been franked by the runner-up who went on to win a novice event at Lingfield before running well on her UAE and turf debut at Medyan in January. Although Kevin Ryan’s filly hasn’t been seen since, she looks to have a decent frame to grow into and she’s very much the type to make up into a nice handicapper before hopefully going on to tackle Group company. She should have no problems with 1m and she remains a nice prospect. KEVIN RYAN BARADAR (IRE) 3 b c Muhaarar - Go Lovely Rose (Pivotal) Roger Varian has quickly established himself as one of the best trainers in the country, which isn’t a great surprise given he spent much time as an assistant to the late Michael Jarvis in Newmarket. Varian has another strong squad at his disposal for the forthcoming season and Baradar should be able to make his mark in Pattern races

6 100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021 judging by the ability he showed as a juvenile. Despite his free-going nature, he’s proved well suited to a soft surface and after comfortable maiden/novice wins at Newbury and York respectively, he showed he could hold his own at the top level when finishing a fine third to Mac Swiney and One Ruler in the Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster on his final start in October. He’ll have to step up again if he’s to reverse placings with the two aforementioned horses in the 2,000 Guineas, but he’s the type physically to make up into a better three-year-old. The Craven Stakes at Newmarket looks the obvious platform on which to kickstart the season and, although on pedigree he’s unlikely to stay much beyond 1m2f, he remains an exciting prospect. ROGER VARIAN BARRINGTON COURT (IRE) 7 ch m Mastercraftsman - Arabian Hideaway (Desert Prince) Although she is now a seven-year-old, Barrington Court is very lightly raced for her age and in 2020 she transformed herself from a 125-rated hurdler into a Listed-level stayer on the Flat with the promise of plenty more to come from her in 2021. Her first-ever run on the Flat was a 1m4f maiden at Bellewstown in August which she won going away by seven lengths from Dewcup, who won his next two starts over hurdles. Her next assignment was a Listed contest at Galway where she finished second to Princess Zoe, who won the Group One Prix Du Cadran on her next start. She then finished a close second behind Dawn Patrol in a Group Three over 2m in September, seemingly staying the extra yardage well. She rounded off her season by comfortably winning a pair of Listed races at Naas back over 1m4f in the autumn. It looks like a return to hurdles will be postponed as she has been such a revelation on the level and she should win more races this season with success at Group level a distinct possibility. Races like the Vintage Crop Stakes, the Curragh Cup and the Irish St Leger will surely come under consideration. JESSICA HARRINGTON BATTLEGROUND (USA) 3 b c War Front - Found (Galileo) The first foal out of Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe winner Found, Battlegound made a promising start when finishing fifth in a very good maiden over 6f at Naas in June and he built on that just ten days later when taking the Listed Chesham Stakes (7f) at Royal Ascot. Next he went to Glorious Goodwood and comfortably won the Group Two Vintage Stakes, also over 7f, after which he was made one of the favourites for this season’s 2,000 Guineas. He wasn’t seen

7 100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021 again until November at the Breeders’ Cup in Keeneland, where he finished an excellent second behind Fire At Will in the Juvenile Turf over 1m, despite covering a lot more ground than the winner having had a wide trip throughout. Ryan Moore was typically succinct after that run: ‘Battleground ran super. Very happy with him.’ The straight mile at Newmarket will be much more to his liking and he remains towards the head of the betting for the Guineas, which may well be his first outing of this season. AIDAN O’BRIEN BELLISSIME (IRE) 3 b f No Nay Never - Dancing On Air (Fastnet Rock) This £150,000 breeze-up purchase made her debut for Kevin Ryan in the Group Two over 6f at York in August, which does immediately tell you about the high regard she is held in. She ran a good race behind the likes of Miss Amulet, Sacred and Umm Kulthum, keeping on well in the closing stages to finish sixth after missing the break, but she never had the pace to get into a challenging position. She was sent off at odds-on the following month at Newcastle over the same trip and led at the furlong pole, only to be worn down late on by Montassib, with the pair pulling nicely clear of the rest. Perhaps it was disappointing she couldn’t quite get the job done, but the third and fourth have both won races since so the form looks sound and, in any case, it may be that Bellissime needs a bit further to be seen to best effect. She’s by No Nay Never, who was a sprinter, but her dam was a 7f winner as a 2yo who mainly raced over 1m+ at three. A maiden win looks a formality, after which she should be able make her mark in handicaps. KEVIN RYAN BERKSHIRE ROCCO (FR) 4 ch c Sir Percy - Sunny Again (Shirocco) Kameko’s victory in last year’s rescheduled 2,000 Guineas was Andrew Balding’s first victory in a British Classic since Casual Look landed the Oaks in 2003. And the Kingsclere trainer came within a neck of bagging his third Classic when Berkshire Rocco was just foiled by Galileo Chrome in the St Leger at Doncaster in September. That effort was some way in advance of anything he had achieved previously, suggesting a strong test of stamina is ideal and, although he was only workmanlike when landing the odds at Ascot just under three weeks later, it’s possible that the tough race at Doncaster and the fact that he had been on the go since spring had left its mark. Nevertheless, he remains a stayer of potential for 2021 and it’s very likely that the step up to 2m will bring about further improvement.

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He may start the year at the Dubai Carnival but, whatever happens there, he’ll be an interesting addition to all the leading Cup races. ANDREW BALDING BLUE FOR YOU (IRE) 3 ch c New Approach - Love In The Sun (Kodiac) The 7f maiden that Blue For You won at Galway at the end of July has been very well advertised by the beaten horses, notably the runner-up Wembley, who easily won his own maiden next time before finishing second behind Thunder Moon in the National Stakes and second again behind St Mark’s Basilica in the Dewhurst. Blue For You, for whom the penny dropped quite late on at Galway, wasn’t seen again but there will surely be more to come from him when he resumes his career at three. What was most pleasing about the Galway performance was his willingness to battle in the closing stages and it is that attribute that will stand him in good stead in the long run. DERMOT WELD BOLSHOI BALLET (IRE) 3 b c Galileo - Alta Anna (Anabaa) Everything about Bolshoi Ballet’s pedigree and his performances so far suggest that he has the ability to make up into a high-class sort over middle-distances and beyond this year. Aidan O’Brien’s colt is a full brother to the yard’s former inmate Southern France, who was placed in the Queen’s Vase as well as finishing third in both the English and the Irish St Legers in 2018 and 2019 respectively. His greenness was apparent when he finished third at Newmarket on his debut, but he bettered that form when making all in a Leopardstown maiden next time and it’s a measure of his regard in the O’Brien camp that he was pitched straight into Group One company at Saint-Cloud (1m2f) on his final start. Although he had the run of the race that day, he still looked green under pressure and, although he plugged on for fifth place, it’s debatable whether the very testing conditions were in his favour at that stage of his development. The Guineas will probably be too much of a speed test for him and he’ll be of much more interest when he goes over 1m4f and beyond. He makes plenty of appeal for those who would like a dabble in the ante-post markets at 33/1 for the English St Leger. AIDAN O’BRIEN BRUNCH 4 b g Harbour Watch - Granola (Makfi) Michael Dods is best known for his exploits with sprinters, but he’s also a very capable trainer with horses over the whole range

9 100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021 of distances and his Brunch, who developed into a smart sort in a relatively short space of time over 7f and 1m last year, looks the sort who can take his form to a higher level in 2021. Although his first two wins came on Tapeta, it quickly became apparent during the latest season that he was even better on turf with two handicap wins at York (both on a sound surface). He stepped up on those efforts from a form perspective, despite a narrow defeat, at Ayr and when dropped to 7f in Listed company (soft) at Redcar on his penultimate start. He wasn’t at his best on his final start at Newmarket, where he’d either had enough for the year or the heavy ground was against him (or a combination of both). A winter break should have done him good and a race like the Lincoln at Doncaster looks an ideal starting point. MICHAEL DODS CARTOUCHE (IRE) 3 b f Galileo - Awesome Maria (Maria’s Mon) A big strapping filly, it took this daughter of Galileo a couple of runs to adapt to racing but everything clicked into place on her third and final outing of 2020 and she’s one to look forward to as she gains further experience. Her first start came in a 7f fillies’ maiden at Dundalk in August but she looked to be hating every second of it, with Wayne Lordan earning his riding fee the hard way as he was pushing and shoving his mount throughout the contest. Despite being beaten by seven and a half lengths, she nevertheless showed a glimmer of ability, according to the Raceform racereader. A month later she ran a similar race at Gowran Park, missing the break before being rowed along early and then eased down in the closing stages having failed to make any impression on the leaders. Her third start over 7f at Fairyhouse in October was a completely different story, however. Soon prominent, she led over 2f out and was ridden clear over 1f out to eventually scoot away by 14 lengths, clearly appreciating the soft to heavy ground. It may not have been the strongest event, but any horse that wins by that far has to have a fair amount of ability and it will be fascinating to see how high a rank she can take at three. She’s entered in the Irish Oaks and she is likely to take in a trial in the spring. AIDAN O’BRIEN CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD (IRE) 5 b g Slade Power - Bound Copy (Street Cry) This one-time Irish Guineas entry had been disappointing over 7f/1m as a three-year-old in 2019, but he found his niche as a sprinter last term, with two wins from six runs after the resumption of racing in June, all over 6f, as well as a fine fifth place in the

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Stewards’ Cup on his penultimate outing. His only subsequent start over the same C&D was a write-off as he reared as the stalls opened and he lost all chance, but he now begins the new season on a mark of 95 with the promise of a bit more improvement to come. He ideally needs a fast pace to show his best and all the big sprints will no doubt be on the agenda as they will almost certainly be run to suit. He is set to run at the Dubai Carnival this spring but he seems to act on any ground and he clearly stands a lot of racing so he could also have a productive summer over here. It would be no surprise were he to bag a big prize this season. MICK CHANNON CHARLIE FELLOWES (IRE) 3 b g Swiss Spirit - Filatelia (Intikhab) Trainers Charlie Fellowes and George Scott decided to promote their Off The Bridle podcast in 2020 by running two horses in those colours, with Charlie Fellowes trained by George Scott and George Scott trained by Charlie Fellowes. The equine George Scott became a bit disappointing if truth be told, but Charlie Fellowes has been a revelation, winning his final three starts of 2020 by an aggregate of 18 and a quarter lengths, which all came after cheekpieces were fitted. Up 3lb for the latest of his wins, Charlie Fellowes ran off a mark of 92 at Lingfield in mid-February, where he was narrowly denied in a bobbing finish by the progressive Twilight Heir. That was not a bad run at all and the AW Championships on Good Friday may still be on the agenda for him. He’s a straightforward type who likes to front-run and it’s unlikely he has reached his peak just yet, so he remains of interest. GEORGE SCOTT CHINDIT (IRE) 3 b c Wootton Bassett - Always A Dream (Oasis Dream) It is too early to write off this son of Wootton Bassett after his disappointing ninth place in the Dewhurst Stakes in October. He was shuffled back in the run, hung right throughout and simply didn’t appear to handle the soft ground, having previously only raced on good ground or faster. His three runs before the Dewhurst were full of promise – firstly at Doncaster, where he won his maiden in July, then in a Listed event (formerly known as the Winkfield Stakes) over 7f at Ascot, which he won with the minimum of fuss from three subsequent winners, and finally in the Group Two Champagne Stakes back at Doncaster in September, where he was always doing enough to see off Albasheer. He may be kept away from soft ground after what happened at Newmarket but, if we have a dry spring, he would

11 100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021 still be interesting for the 2,000 Guineas, for which he is a general 20/1 chance. It seems certain that he will stick to trips of around a mile and may prove a force in all the top races over that distance throughout the summer. RICHARD HANNON COLTRANE (IRE) 4 b c Mastercraftsman - Promise Me (Montjeu) Andrew Balding has managed a century of winners in four of the last five calendar years and the bookies won’t be offering generous odds that he gets to three figures in 2021. He has an enviable blend of quantity and quality in the yard and he has shown himself adept at handling progressive types. He has certainty got one of those in Coltrane, who could end up being smart if he carries on his improvement from last summer. Following comfortable wins at Chepstow (in a maiden) and Newmarket (on his handicap debut), the colt turned in his best effort when beating a stack of previous winners in a competitive renewal of the Melrose Stakes (1m6f) at York’s Ebor fixture. Although he suffered his only defeat on turf in the Cesarewitch when last seen in October, his chance was compromised by the widest draw (34) and, in all probability, he didn’t really see out the 2m2f trip on soft ground at that stage of his career. Granted further progress, one could easily see him developing into an Ebor sort. ANDREW BALDING CROSSFORD (IRE) 3 b c Dawn Approach - Stylish One (Invincible Spirit) In ten years as a licensed trainer, Charles Hills has had in excess of 250 winners, who have earned just over £5m in win and place prize money on the domestic front. Although Crossford has only contributed a relatively modest £6,843 to that total by way of a narrow AW success and a couple of placed efforts on turf, he’s shown enough to suggest he’s a horse to keep onside in handicaps this season. He first showed he had ability, despite a sluggish start in a race that didn’t really suit those attempting to come from behind, on debut at Doncaster in September and he backed up that effort when looking more professional in a Newmarket maiden next time. His final effort resulted in a narrow victory at Newcastle, but that form was franked several times and, given his physical presence, he looks likely to improve again as a three- year-old, especially when he goes beyond 7f. He should have no problem with 1m2f in due course and an official handicap mark of 84 should also prove manageable. CHARLES HILLS

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