Horse Racing Tips
Five best performances of the Flat season so far
As with every year, the 2023 Flat racing season has seen some legendary performances from both racecourse newcomers and champions from previous years.
Here, we will be looking back on a selection of the most impressive victories of the summer, and consider what might be next for the individual horses.
King Of Steel, winner of the Group 2 King Edward VII
Having created quite a stir when finishing a close second in the Derby at long odds of 66/1, Roger Varian’s King Of Steel started his following race, the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, the short-priced favourite at 11/10.
The son of Wootton Bassett had started his racing career in the charge of trainer David Loughnane, for whom he had won a two-year-old maiden in good style, but subsequently failed to strike in heavy conditions for the Futurity Trophy Stakes, finishing second last.
A change of scene, moving to the yard of Roger Varian, and a step up in trip from his two-year-old miles on firmer going, brought the colt back to his best, demonstrated by his excellent but unexpected challenge of Derby double-winner, Auguste Rodin. It was clear to trainer, jockey, connections and punters alike that King Of Steel was a serious racehorse.
20 days later at Royal Ascot, the King Edward VII became his time to really shine. Jumping keenly out of the stalls, King Of Steel was checked immediately by jockey Kevin Stott, who supressed his early energy and held him at the back of the field in the early stages, conserving his best effort for the latter part of the race. With three furlongs to go, Stott upped the colt’s momentum, gliding steadily past his rivals, edging closer to the front until the pair were leading with two furlongs left to travel. Although darting right towards the rail, which potentially hampered the other frontrunners, King Of Steel kept on gamely to the finish, sailing ahead of the group and winning comfortably by over three lengths. Even as he pulled up, he looked to have plenty of running left.
Now aiming at the Group 1 King George VI at Ascot, which is run over the same distance, King Of Steel will – pending declarations – go head-to-head with Auguste Rodin once again, stepping up in class once again to a Group 1 race. He is capable, having finished so well in the Derby, but may find this to be his hardest race yet as he goes up against horses older, more experienced and physically mature than himself for the first time in his career. It will be a compelling watch, and King Of Steel is already jostling with Auguste Rodin for favouritism in the market.
City Of Troy, winner of the Group 2 Superlative Stakes
Few two-year-olds leave an impression anything like that of Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy.
The colt, a son of Justify and a full brother to classy handicapper Bertinelli, first appeared on the racecourse in early July, running prominently in a seven-furlong maiden at the Curragh before leading the field of 13 to win by a most promising two-and-a-half lengths. This stylish win only hinted at what City Of Troy could do, though, and his next run was lauded by broadcasters as one of the best two-year-old performances we have seen in recent years.
The Group 2 Superlative Stakes was the stage upon which O’Brien’s colt began his second race, setting off as hot favourite at 4/6. Running prominently once again, he was calm and collected under the guidance of jockey Ryan Moore, and looked a far more mature and experienced racehorse than his CV would suggest.
When asked to lengthen his stride and quicken, City Of Troy did so with great athleticism and stormed ahead of the field, getting further and further away from them in the closing stages until he finally crossed the line over six lengths ahead of Haatem, the runner up.
Having shown how special he is already, the colt could be next seen in a Group 1, holding an entry for the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August, for which he would drop down in trip to six furlongs, or he may stay at Group 2 level in the seven-furlong Futurity Stakes at the same course.
Whatever he goes on to do, City Of Troy looks to be the best progeny of Justify, himself a four-time Group 1 winner, on the racecourse today.
Paddington, winner of the Group 1 Eclipse
Four runners, two classy colts, one top-class filly and a young pretender. The line-up for the Group 1 Eclipse, held at Sandown two weeks after Royal Ascot, was the subject of much debate within the racing faction on the lead up to the event.
Paddington, a three-year-old trained by Aidan O’Brien who had won all of his four races against his own age-group that season, was set to go up against older and well-accomplished horses for the first time. There was no doubt that he was an extraordinary talent, having beaten the likes of 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean on his last start in the Group 1 St James’s Palace at Royal Ascot, but his relative immaturity, when compared to his Eclipse rivals, left his result hanging in the balance.
Given a fair chance by his weight-for-age, it seemed unlikely that Paddington would not be up to the task, hence he jumped out of the stalls 8/11 favourite, ahead of Emily Upjohn’s 85/40 starting price.
Racing calmly in an ordered string, the quartet became rather strung out during the race, and it was only when making the homeward turn that the drama began.
West Wind Blows, the least likely candidate judged on the market and ratings, was running far better than expected with two furlongs to go, leading the pack and attempting to quicken away. Paddington, though, who was creeping gradually closer on his near side, was beginning to get the better of him, with Emily Upjohn challenging on his left. The pair sped away, leaving the other runners struggling, and pushed each other to the line.
As hard as she tried, Emily Upjohn could not get closer than half a length to Paddington’s nose as they crossed the line six lengths ahead of their rivals.
Paddington proved that day that immaturity was immaterial to him.
Savethelastdance, winner of the Cheshire Oaks
Yet another trainee of the all-conquering Aidan O’Brien, Savethelastdance – a three-year-old filly by Derby double-winner Galileo – was nothing short of extraordinary in the Listed Cheshire Oaks back in May.
The filly had only run twice before; once, unremarkably, as a two-year-old and an impressive win on her reappearance this year in heavy conditions at Leominster. She had raced prominently and led the field of 10 towards the finish line, winning decisively by over two lengths, showing that she was a much-improved horse from the previous year.
With good reason, then, she started in the Cheshire Oaks – for which she stepped up in trip by a furlong and a half – as the 8/11 favourite. The fact that Ryan Moore was in the saddle could only enhance her winning claims, the ground was soft to suit her and she was bred for the job, being out of an American Oaks winning mare. She was clearly expected to win, but no punter was prepared for how well she would eventually do so.
Slowly away, Savethelastdance did not, at first, appear to be doing her best work and needed to be niggled along by Moore, who brought her up to compete when approaching the final three furlongs. Passing the horses who were less adept at handling the softer ground with ease, Savethelastdance sailed into the lead, but did not stop there. She pulled further and further away from the field, displaying an astonishing turn of foot and put no less than 22 lengths between her and the runner up. She was outstanding.
Let down by too-firm conditions in her following race, the Oaks at Epsom – in which she finished second to Soul Sister – Savethelastdance is due to run in the Irish Oaks, for which she should get her preferred going, and could get back to winning form once again. Following this, we might see her at the York Ebor Festival or in the St Leger towards the end of the Flat season. With the right ground, she is unsurpassable.
Emily Upjohn, winner of the Group 1 Coronation Cup
Having won the Group 3 Musidora Stakes as a three-year-old, followed by the Group 1 British Champions Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes later that season, punters and spectators knew that John and Thady Gosden’s filly was talented. The fact that she was kept in training, rather than being retired to stud, after her three-year-old campaign is testament to this.
Her capability, then, of winning the Coronation Cup on her seasonal debut – without having had a prep-run of any sort – was widely debated. Emily Upjohn was due to up against colts who were more highly rated than herself, such as Westover – who had last run in March – and Hurricane Lane, who had won his last start the previous month by six lengths. It looked as if they might have a fitness advantage over the filly, who would be running fresh.
Westover was the favourite as the stalls opened for the Coronation Cup at 5/2, expected to improve on his second in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic from earlier in the year, and was in touch with the leaders from the off. Emily Upjohn, on the other hand, went along happily at the tail end of the field, with rider Frankie Dettori biding his time. Creeping up the outside when the group began to turn for home, Dettori asked for effort in the straight and the filly delivered in great style, outpacing the colts and driving towards the finish while Westover chased in vain. It was a brilliant come-back run which was followed up by a gallant defeat in Paddington’s Eclipse.
We could next see Emily Upjohn in the King George VI at Ascot, the Juddmonte International, or in the Yorkshire Oaks, in all of which she is bound to be competitive.
