Flat Horses to Follow 2023 - @Racing_Lew
Castle Way (Almanzor x Beach Frolic) - 96
3YO Ch C
Charlie Appleby – Godolphin
Form: 2141
Anything this strapping son of Almanzor did as a 2-year-old was a positive, which there was plenty, finishing 2nd on debut and going on to win twice, improving the further he went. Well, it turns out nothing everything was a positive, he’s all but ruined his derby chances if that was ever on the agenda. The only time he did disappoint was in conditions race at Epsom in late September. He was so unbalanced due to the undulations of Epsom he just couldn’t run his race at all; however, he did run on under a hands and heels ride once he did regain himself, so it wasn’t fully devoid of promise.
His final start of 2022 was his best, making light work of an opening mark of 89 in a future stayer’s nursery, which is exactly what I see him as. He was only just getting going at the finish and only need a shake of the reigns to quick up to win comfortably. As mentioned, anything he did at 2 was a positive because he’s definitely one that will improve with age. Coming into his classic year, I think his long-term target could be the St Leger (1m 6f 115y) at Doncaster, he could be that good. I think early in the 2023 turf season, races such as the Classic Trial (1m 1f 209y) at Sandown, Derby trial (1m 3f 133y) at Lingfield and moving onto the Queen’s Vase (1m 6f 34y) at Ascot. A variety of trips on offer their dependant on his needs after a winter of strengthening. However, off a mark of 96 they may begin handicapping with him, I’d hold him in better regard than that.
Torre Del Oro (Almanzor x Roystonia) - 77
3YO Ch C
Andrew Balding – Mick & Janice Mariscotti
Form: 544
Out of a staying family, the mare Roystonia picked up a valuable bit of black type finishing 3 rd in the Beckford Stakes at Bath (1m 6f). She’s a Galileo herself and Torre Del Oro’s sire being Almanzor, he should stay longer than the mother-in-law.
He’s not been knocked about in his maiden/novice events during the autumn and through the winter on the all-weather. His last run at Kempton before Christmas was good enough for it to take the eye for me. Short of room at a crucial stage and when he did get out, the winners had flown but he stuck on well. His best bit of form was his run prior to that at Chelmsford, finishing 4 th of 7 but was ridden with handicaps in mind, I think. The 3rd in that race is rated 90 now, the 2nd 83 and the winner 85. So, a mark of 77 where he hasn’t been showing his true running very much understates his ability.
Wouldn’t be certain this horse has the ability to be rated 100+ but I think he can be competitive from a mark in the 90’s when showing his true ability. I’m not expecting to see him again on the AW, he’ll be saved for the turf I’d imagine. There’s a decent pot at Doncaster on Sunday 2 nd April for 3year-old only rated between 71-90, that’s where I could expect him to feature. If he wins in the meantime, the golden gate handicap at Royal Ascot could be a nice race if he does improve.
Bussento (Oasis Dream x Super Saturday) – 86
3YO B C
Eve Johnson Haughton – Mick and Janice Mariscotti
Form: 432
Brings some very good collateral form to the table from all 3 of his runs as a 2yo. His maiden at Goodwood in July is the best, beaten 2 and ¼ lengths by Group 2 winning The Foxes (Now rated 111), 2 lengths by Classic (91) and neck by Loyal Touch (90). Was hampered in the run that day so on that form he’s probably somewhere in the high 90’s alone. 2nd start at Newbury he improved a position to come 3rd, beaten OJ Lifestyle (88) and Leadman who’s yet to receive a rating. He had Blanchland (108) in behind that day too, who will feature later. He improved a position again next time out to finish second, beaten a neck by what I would think is an inferior horse, but right for the trip on the day.
Bussento’s pedigree suggests as a 3-year-old he’ll progress up to a mile and possibly stretch to a mile a quarter in time. He’s by Oasis Dream whose progeny definitely prefer quicker ground than they do softer, if the summer’s anything like last year, he should be fine all summer long.
I’m struggling for targets for this horse, off a mark of 86 he’s fit perfectly into a lot of the big, prized handicaps but with normal improvement from 2 to 3 he could even be pitched into classic trials depending on how well he’s done over the winter.
Blanchland (Farhh x Examinee) – 108
3YO B C
Jane Chapple-Hyam – P W Harris
Form: 6212
Annoyingly, from a punting perspective this horse ruined his handicap mark on his final start of 2022, finishing 2nd to Flying Honours (110) in the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket. Prior to the race he was only rated 87, since then he was assessed to be rated 108. The dam has produced another stayer in the family, albeit in Italy. His half-brother Atzeco has won 2 group 3’s and 2 listed races on varying ground, from good to heavy so that gives Blanchland lots of assignments over the summer.
I think his pedigree suggests he will improve with age, and I didn’t have him down as much of a 2year-old, so stepping up to the mile and a quarter in that final start means we should see him in all the big staying races in 2023. The Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot could be a nice early season target for him, I think he’ll follow a similar path to the aforementioned Castle Way, but I’d have this lad the classier animal. Following on from Ascot, the Gordon stakes at Goodwood is a possible and the Great Voltigeur at York also. My preference for him would be to go Ascot for the Queen’s Vase then onto Goodwood.
He's a very honest horse and travelled well through his races before finding plenty for pressure in the closing stages which should only increase the further, he goes. His running style gives him every chance of getting the trip however far they send him, he gets plenty of cover, switches off and comes alive for pressure, if they’re allowed to be asked this season.
Azure Blue (El Kabeir – Sea of Dreams) – 98
4YO GR F
Michael Dods – P Appleton & Mrs Anne Elliot
Form: 241411
Incredibly consistent filly during her 3-year-old campaign in which she improved 20lbs in the handicap and was never finishing outside the first 5 and winning 4 times, cumulating in the listed Boadicea stakes at Newmarket. That’ll be the black type secured for her so hopefully they can return to racing in 2023 to eye more top-level targets considering how progressive she was.
The Dods yard do incredibly well with horses like this, you only have to look at how they campaigned Gale Force Maya, whom she beat on her final start of 2022. She could be in for an interesting return this year given her mark, which is still low enough to have a nice weight for the big field handicaps at the festivals but given her pattern level success, is that where they see her resuming her career.
With another winter behind here I’d expect to see her continue improving on a mark of 98 and be competitive in those races. I actually found it hard to come across improving sprinters as naturally you’d expect them to step up in trip with age, but she fit the bill perfectly for me.
Missed The Cut (Quality Road x Beauly) – 108
4YO B C
George Boughey – Babbington, Lanes End, St Elias & Hudson
Form: 411151
The most high-profile horse in this list but he’s still only a listed winner at best, for now… He looks to have the world at his hooves in 2023. Starting in read with the Neom turf on the agenda and then connections hinting at a possible tilt at run on dirt, given his American sire. The form of that Listed success at Lingfield is working out with Algiers going out to Meydan and winning at G2 level twice, as he liked.
His Lingfield run was most impressive for me and he’s a big strong horse who is suited by galloping tracks and Lingfield is everything but that. He needed every yard of the straight there and broke the course record in the process. The front pair made light work of some very highly regarded rivals that day and with that run under his belt, he could be anything.
I don’t think we’ll see him back in U.K until Royal Ascot where the Prince of Wales would be the likely target, in the interim after Saudi I think he’ll head to America to pick up an early season grade 1 over there, given he’s now co owned by Lanes End stud.
Quick ground seems the preference when he does race on turf, he should find that wherever he travels this year.
Hi Royal (Kodiac x Majestic Roi) – Unrated
3YO B C
Kevin Ryan – Jaber Abdullah
Form: 31
Has an impressive page with his family being littered with winners, the majority at a high level too. His debut run was in what is stereotypically one of the hottest maidens of the year, the Convivial at the Ebor meeting. He flew home that day for a promising third beaten half a length and then next time out at Ayr won as he was entitled too, beating the 2nd horse by 2 and half lengths eased down. The form of that race is poor but the way he won the race suggests there will be more to come irrelevant of who was in behind.
He displayed a pretty deadly turn of foot at Ayr and that’s what won him the race in the way he did so if he can take that attribute into the higher grade races he’ll be a big player.
He holds an early entry in the Irish Guineas which shows the regard in which he is held and throughout the year he should be able to show his ability over further, given his other relations have stayed up to a mile and a half.
Royal Symbol (Sea The Stars x Measured Tempo) – Unrated
4YO B G
Charlie Appleby – Godolphin
Form: 1
This horse was impressive on debut all the way back in 2021 and has produced what must’ve been the hottest maiden of that year. He had Groundbreaker in 2 nd (99), Asaassi (93), Al Qareem (112), Sea Silk Road (106) amongst other decent horses. Unfortunately, this lad hasn’t been seen since then, so he’s obviously had his problems.
He was gelded as recently as October so at least he’s still alive and hopefully in training ready for the turf season. If he retains any of his ability and comes back the same horses then he should be a major player in the graded races from a mile and a quarter and the way up to a mile and 6 furlongs, given his pedigree.
He seemed to have it all on his debut, he broke well, settled, travelled and was as game as you like In the finish so if he’s retained all them qualities he could be anything this year. Due to his age I’m not really sure on early season targets but as long as we see him back on the track early he’ll give himself every chance of being competitive.
Mighty River (Siyouni x Coral Garden) – 86
3YO
B C James Tate – Saeed Manana Form531312Another horse that will be seen to best effect over staying trips, I was there for his debut at Doncaster and backed him that day due to his nice pedigree and he looked well too but there was plenty to grow into. He was ridden cold, pretty much last all the way before being tenderly handled into the race finishing a never nearer 5th. He seemed to love the soft ground so he could be a player come the autumn.
He's been highly tried on the AW this winter which I didn’t really expect consider the promise of his debut, I thought he’d be kept for the early season maiden’s. He’s shown his hand now, but I think he’s been unlucky so far, but it’s getting close to being too often to keep calling it luck. However, with that being said, he does keep improving on the figures when he runs over further.
The family has produced several stayers all the way up to 2 and a half miles with Reefscape being related to the dam. He won a G1 in France and came 2nd to Yeats in the Ascot Gold Cup so there shouldn’t be a limit on how far he can stay. He has plenty of speed too for those type of trips, being by Siyouni.
Wallop
3YO B C
(Harry Angel x Samaah) – 98
Richard Hannon – J Sullivan & W SalthouseForm: 352
I’m of the impression that this lad will be a big player in the sprinting division this year. He couldn’t go with them in the Mill Reef but wasn’t beaten out of sight behind the classic hope Sakheer. The form of that race is working out okay though, Shouldvebeenaring won early in 2023 in a fast-track qualifier, Charyn won a French group 2 also.
He was then beaten in a conditions race by Bolt Action but didn’t have a clear run, so given what happened I think that’s solid form as well. He’s not been seen since late September so with a good winter behind him, he can strength up and put his best hoof forward.
He’s a half-brother too Huraiz, once rated 101 and also Mulzim who was peak rated 97, so the family are smart sprinters, but they hadn’t shown what Wallop had at this this stage and if he can surpass them, he could be anything.
He could pitch nicely into the Bet365 Handicap Stakes at the first Newmarket meeting of the year, on 20th April. For 3-year old’s only rated between 81-100 over 6 furlongs. That seems an ideal place to start and gauge how he’s done over the winter.