Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's Thunder Moon stamped himself as a leader of his generation in the autumn with a victory in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and a third in the G1 Dewhurst S., but disappointed when last of 14 in the May 1 G1 2000 Guineas.

“Thunder Moon obviously disappointed at Newmarket, so we've put a line through that run,” O'Brien told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast. “We had an eye on the Irish Guineas but when the ground looked like it was going to be soft, which it was, we rerouted to go to Ascot and his preparation has gone well.”

Of the colt's Guineas performance, O'Brien added, “Nothing really came to light other than the fact he got very upset pre-race; we didn't have much of an excuse. He's been well since. Unfortunately these things happen and we've just put a line through it. There's always the possibility [that he hasn't trained on] but his work has been nice at home. He's always been a sharp worker and his work has been good in preparation for this race. You never know until they do it on the track and that is where it matters.”

Thunder Moon will have the chance to redeem himself in the G1 St James's Palace S.

“I think it's a suitable race, a relatively easy mile compared to The Curragh–it's certainly easier than that, so it looks a good race for him,” O'Brien said. “I think he goes there with an outside chance, certainly a good chance if he can get back to his best form.”

John Oxley's G1 Fillies' Mile winner and Cartier champion 2-year-old filly Pretty Gorgeous finished seventh, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in the lone start thus far of her 3-year-old campaign. She holds an entry in next week's G1 Coronation S.

“She's done really well,” O'Brien said. “It was well documented we didn't have the smoothest of runs with her but I was pleased with her at The Curragh, I was pleased with her comeback run and I'm excited to get her out again. I think her ideal ground is the easy side of good, but she's proven effective on all surfaces. I'm happy enough with the ground for her.

“I feel good with the Ascot team, we might not have any outstanding chances but we have some nice chances. I think Pretty Gorgeous might be our best chance going over there. I'd be very pleased if we can get one on the board.”

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As ever, Ballydoyle will have something to say on the matter with Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) bidding to provide her dam You'resothrilling (Storm Cat) with a third English or Irish Guineas winner. Having captured the G3 Irish 1000 Guineas Trial over a mile at Leopardstown last time May 9, the full-sister to Gleneagles (Ire) and Marvellous (Ire) is back on the soft-to-heavy surface on which she broke her maiden over seven furlongs here Mar. 21. “Like with most of ours this weekend, she'd much prefer better ground but we do at least know she's gone on it before, even though it was only a maiden,” Aidan O'Brien commented.

Successful in the seven-furlong G3 Athasi S. staged on testing ground here May 3, the O'Callaghans' No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) gets re-acquainted with Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) who she trailed when fourth in Deauville's G2 Prix du Calvados on very soft ground in August. The latter was third in the May 2 G1 1000 Guineas on ground that would have been a touch too fast and has done very little wrong throughout her career. No Speak Alexander's trainer Jessie Harrington said, “I'm not saying she will win, but she'll be in the shake-up.” Fev Rover's trainer Richard Fahey commented, “I've been preaching all winter that I want to get her on better ground and here we are running on heavy, but she has had experience of it so she'll handle it as well as most. I was keen to get her to The Curragh, because I just thought the track would suit her. We've been pleased with her since Newmarket–she's a pretty straightforward girl.”

Pulled out of Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Doreen Tabor's Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), who took the G2 Lowther S. on good-to-soft in August before encountering a quicker surface when runner-up in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket and third in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, is a certain runner here. “It's the last Classic she can run in and she'll take her chance,” trainer Ken Condon said. “The 2-year-old career she put together means she deserves her chance in a Guineas. There are genuine concerns about the ground and, as a consequence, the trip is going to be in more focus. We've a good man riding her and she's drawn around fancied horses.”

Broome Looks For Clean Sweep

Also on the card is the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, where Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) flies the flag for Aidan O'Brien along with the G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G1 Epsom Derby hero Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Broome has rattled up a treble while his two stable companions limbered up on the home gallops, taking the Listed Devoy S. at Naas Mar. 28 and Apr. 17 G3 Alleged S. and May 3 G2 Mooresbridge S. here and his ability to handle this type of ground is already proven. “Broome lost his way last year,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He has had three trials in Ireland and I have been very happy with him in all of them. We always thought a mile and a half would suit him this year and he has only been a mile and quarter yet, but I am very happy with him. He won on soft ground earlier in the spring there and he seems to be in good form. The other two are just ready to start back. Serpentine is working very well. Ten furlongs is probably not ideal for either of them really, but they have to start somewhere.”

Moyglare Stud's dual G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) drops back almost half a mile having been an encouraging second on her seasonal bow in Leopardstown's Listed Saval Beg Levmoss S. May 14. Third behind Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) when getting going too late in the delayed edition of this in July, the homebred comes into this in a better place at present and the much slower surface will only serve to aid her cause.

In the G3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule S., Fiona Carmichael's G1 Epsom Derby entry Taipan (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) escapes from the clutches of the current blue riband favourite Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) having finished third and fifth to that rival in Leopardstown's G3 Ballysax S. Apr. 11 and May 9 G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial respectively. Up in trip and back on testing ground that looks to suit is The Aga Khan's Erzindjan (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), having been a staying-on second taking on his elders in Leopardstown's G3 Amethyst S. at a mile May 9.

Classic Appetizers In Germany

Hoppegarten stage the G3 Derby-Trial and G2 Diana Trial, with the latter the stage for Gestut Gorlsdorf's promising Mercedes (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) who impressed on debut over this 10-furlongs trip here May 9. Out of the 2016 winner of this race, Meergorl (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), she hails from the family of last year's G1 Preis der Diana heroine Miss Yoda (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). She meets Manfred Anton Schmelzer's G3 Preis der Winterkonigin heroine Noble Heidi (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), who goes up in trip after disappointing on her return when fifth in the G3 Karin Baronin von Ullmann Schwarzgold-Rennen at a mile at Cologne May 2. In the Derby-Trial over the same mile-and-a-quarter trip, Gestut Hony-Hof's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten runner-up Sea of Sands (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) should be sharper for his comeback third in the G3 Bavarian Classic over this distance at Munich at the start of the month.

Derby Anchors Blockbuster Rome Card

The €633,600 G2 Derby Italiano headlines a six-stake card at Rome on Sunday, and with shippers from England, France and Germany taking on the locals, it is guaranteed to be an intriguing affair. Juan De Montalban (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Fabilis (GB) (Frankel {GB}), one-two in a 2000 metre Sandown handicap on Apr. 23, re-oppose with the former making his first start for owner Luigi Roveda and trainer Raffaele Biondi after being purchased privately from Mick and Janice Mariscotti from the yard of Andrew Balding. Juan De Montalban was making his seasonal debut at Sandown, having won by three lengths at third asking going a furlong shorter at Goodwood in October.

Fabilis, meanwhile, takes the prize on pedigree among this bunch, being a son of Frankel out of Mirabilis (Lear Fan), a Grade III-winning half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane victress Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat). Miribilis lines up in the Juddmonte colours for trainer Ralph Beckett, and he makes his third start of the year having run fourth in a one-mile Southwell handicap on Jan. 28. He was fourth in the G3 Zetland S. in October.

Teruya Yoshida's Tokyo Gold (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) is among the visitors from France, and the winner of last year's Listed Prix Haras de Bouquetot lines up off a second in the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault on the Polytrack on Mar. 9 and a fourth in the G3 Prix Noailles on Apr. 11. Isfahani (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}) is among the German raiders, and he has already successfully shipped to Italy, having won the G3 Premio Guido Berardelli last term for trainer Henk Grewe and Darius Racing.

Those trying to keep Derby glory at home include Roberto Saggini's Flag's Up (Ire), one of two sons of War Command in the lineup and the winner of the ten-furlong Listed Premio Emanuele Filiberto on May 2. Tiaspettofuori (Ity) (Mujahid), meanwhile, went a half-furlong further to take the Listed Premio Botticelli over this course on Apr. 25, and all four runners from that race re-oppose here.

Click here for the group fields.

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“We got a lot more rain than we anticipated overnight. We were forecast 15 millimetres at the most in the last 24 hours,” he explained on Friday. “It's come completely out of left field, unfortunately. The track would not be raceable today. We'll just have to monitor things as we go along. If more rain came than was forecast, that would give us a problem. We're hopeful, but we will have a precautionary inspection tomorrow morning.”

In the event the fixture takes place, an ability to handle testing ground is obviously a given and with the easy surface in part to blame for the eclipse of Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, it is hard to see Jim Bolger welcoming the deluge for the seeker of the prestigious G1 English-Irish 2000 Guineas double. He does have a proven lover of the ground as back-up in Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who relished similar conditions when taking the G1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in October. If he is none the worse for his infection suffered when fourth in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown May 9, the homebred is made for the stamina test this race will provide.

Another with Group 1-winning form on testing ground is Van Gogh (American Pharoah), who was very much at home on it when taking Saint-Cloud's G1 Criterium International by four lengths in October. Out of the 2001 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), he ran eighth in the May 1 G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on contrasting ground and Aidan O'Brien expects improvement.

“He was very close to being fifth in the Guineas, he just got tired in the last 50 yards,” he said. “Maybe our Newmarket horses were a couple of weeks behind where we thought they were. He came out of the race very well. He is a big, strong traveller. He had very good form at the back end of last year and we have been very happy with him since as well. I don't think he is a horse that needs soft ground. His form ended up on soft ground at the end of the year, but that was just because of the weather.”

Runner-up in a soft-ground G1 Dewhurst S., Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the pick of Ryan Moore and he is looking for a much-improved performance from him and another Newmarket Guineas disappointment in Battleground (War Front). The latter ploughed through the soft when winning the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot last June, but there is more evidence that Wembley will be able to give his best on this type of ground.

“Our three colts are on a retrieval mission after the 2000 Guineas, though to be fair I thought Van Gogh shaped very well there on ground that would have been too quick for him and this deeper surface will really play to his staying strengths,” he said. “Clearly, Wembley and Battleground didn't run up to expectations at Newmarket, but we know both are much, much better than that and Wembley is another colt who will prefer this softer ground. He just wasn't himself at Newmarket and I wasn't hard him on there once his chance had clearly gone at the two-furlong pole. It was soft when he finished second to the French Guineas winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the Dewhurst, and we clearly anticipate better from him and Battleground here.”

It is hard to be categoric about the ground for Zhang Yuesheng's Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), as he took this track's G1 Phoenix S. on good-to-yielding in August and is by a sire whose progeny excel when there is cut underfoot. Handling a quick surface when third in the 2000 Guineas, he will have his stamina stretched by this examination and trainer Jessie Harrington is far from confident about his ability to handle conditions.

“The ground won't suit him, but it's going to be the same for all of them,” she said. “I've been very happy with him since Newmarket.”

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is another unproven on this going, having flopped when fifth in the Criterium International but he was back to form when runner-up to Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Newmarket's G3 Craven S. over this mile trip last time Apr. 15.

“La Barrosa disappointed on testing ground at Saint-Cloud, but we feel there were other contributing factors that day,” Charlie Appleby explained. “It was the end of the season and he scoped dirty post-race, so I think you can put a bit of a line through that run. His preparation has gone well and he put up a very good performance behind Master of the Seas on his three-year-old return. A repeat of that effort should make him very competitive.”

There has to be doubts as to whether the Ballydoyle support cast will turn up in their expected numbers, with the Apr. 10 Dundalk maiden winner Cadamosto (Ire) (No Nay Never) already a non-runner on five occasions this term. He is due to take part in the G3 GAIN Marble Hill S., where stablemate The Entertainer (Ire) (Caravaggio) is also engaged having scored on his sole start at Navan last Saturday. Deep ground is an unknown in general for juveniles and it will be interesting to see if the well-regarded Donnacha O'Brien-trained Masseto (GB) (Territories {Ire}) lines up against the colt he beat on debut at Navan Apr. 25, Celtic Times (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}).

Also on the card is the G2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands S., where the Hambleton Racing colourbearer Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) reappears under a three-pound penalty for his success in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. in similar conditions in October. Also forced to carry a penalty is Teruya Yoshida's Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) in the G2 Lanwades Stud S., with the G1 Matron S. scorer hardened by a return fourth in the seven-furlong G3 Athasi S. at The Curragh May 3.

At a similarly rain-hit Haydock, the six-furlong G2 Sandy Lane S. and G2 Temple S. over five will represent wars of attrition for the sprinters. Slow, sapping ground is a question mark for Yoshiro Kubota's unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the Sandy Lane, given how electric he was on good-to-firm at Hamilton May 2.

“He has done everything right so far this year and he answered everything that we have asked of him since his debut on the all-weather,” trainer Archie Watson said. “He is going back up to six furlongs and we are hopeful that he will handle the softer ground up there, as the ground was quick last time out at Musselburgh. This is a big step up in class and it should give us an idea of where we are with him.”

Shadwell's G3 Horris Hill S. winner Mujbar (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) loves it deep and is a proven stayer at this trip, so everything is set up for a big effort from the half-brother to the G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

“He is obviously proven on soft ground, as he won his Group 3 in those conditions at Newbury last year,” trainer Charlie Hills said. “I was slightly disappointed with his run in the Greenham, but I've been really pleased with him since and he is training a lot better now. For some reason at Newbury he just ran a bit fresh with the choke out and that probably cost him.”

In the Temple, a clutch of classy sprint fillies and mares trained in the North clash with Liberty Beach (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Lady In France (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Keep Busy (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) having been third, fourth and fifth respectively in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye in October. John Quinn trains Liberty Beach and Keep Busy and said of them, “They are two good fillies and you have got to run them somewhere, it would be unfair not to run one of them so we're just hoping for a bit of luck. I don't think any extra rain would be a problem for either of them. They've form in good ground and they have shown they go in soft ground, which is important. Liberty Beach was a very good 2-year-old and showed very strong form last year while Keep Busy was a very tough two year old and has just kept on improving.”

At the other end of the stamina spectrum, Koji Maeda's G3 Prix Belle de Nuit winner Believe In Love (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) returns in York's G3 William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies' S. over a near-14-furlong trip.

In Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas, John Oxley's 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) heads 14 fillies with soft ground holding no fears based on the evidence of her impressive success in Newmarket's G1 Fillies' Mile in October. Denied the chance to contest the May 2 Newmarket Classic due to an unsatisfactory scope, she will not be renewing rivalry with her G1 Moyglare Stud S. conqueror Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) after that peer was a significant scratching at the confirmation stage on Friday. Drawn widest of all, she encounters Doreen Tabor's G2 Lowther S. winner Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), who was taken out of Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp but has fared little better with the draw here in 12. Also wide in 11 is Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor's May 9 G3 Irish 1000 Guineas Trial scorer Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while the May 2 G1 1000 Guineas third Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) is in nine.

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Aidan O'Brien has saddled 10 winners of the first Classic of the season and has 12 entries for the 2000 Guineas, including 2-year-old champion St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and G2 Vintage S. scorer Battleground (War Front). O'Brien's son Joseph, likewise, has Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) signed on, and he said of the bay, a last-out third in the G1 Dewhurst S., “Thunder Moon has wintered well and we are pleased with where we are. There is plenty of water still to go under the bridge yet but it is exciting to have a live contender for the 2000 Guineas. We were very pleased with the run in the Dewhurst considering the ground on the day. He was posted on a tougher part of the track as there was bias towards the stands rails but we were pleased with him. He is obviously a pretty quick horse on what he has done so far but he shapes as though a mile will be within compass so I don't see the trip being a problem. I do feel that he will be better on quicker ground as well. It is nice to have had a run at the track previously and that experience there won't do him any harm. We have the option of running him beforehand but we will decide nearer the time and see how the horse is before making that decision.”

O'Brien added of his champion 2-year-old filly Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}), who is among the early favourites for the 1000 Guineas, “She is obviously a course and distance winner so we know she gets the trip well. I was very pleased with the performance in the Fillies' Mile. It was a brave performance as she had a bit of an interrupted preparation going into the race.

“She is an exciting filly. Her pedigree suggests she will be open to stay further than a mile as well which gives her plenty of options. Like with Thunder Moon, she has wintered well and I'm pleased with where we are. She was consistently solid last season and hopefully we can keep it that way. She was fine on both soft and good ground so she is versatile ground-wise. A decision on whether she has a prep run will depend on how she is training and how we feel closer to the time.”

Richard Hannon, meanwhile, said of the G2 Vintage S. winner Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who is engaged for the 2000 Guineas, “I'm very pleased with him and he has done very well. He did just a bit more than a canter a few days ago, him [fellow Guineas entrants] Fancy Man (Ire) and Etonian (Ire) all worked and it was a lovely start.

“Regarding his Newmarket run [ninth in the Dewhurst], the times say that the ground was heavy and it looked it. Chindit will go wherever there is decent ground. If it turns up at Newbury that is where he will go first [for the G3 Greenham S.]. He had done all his winning on flat tracks at Doncaster and Ascot before Newmarket and I'm not sure he loved the track. He has always been a neat horse with a good action. He is a good horse with a lot of speed. I think he would get the mile in a Guineas and would be suited by that trip as he is a very straightforward, simple horse.”

Trainer Andrew Balding provided an update on G1 Cheveley Park S. scorer Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), who recently returned from winter holiday.

“We are very much looking at the Guineas but that is still a long way off,” he said. “She has had a good holiday but she still looks a bit wintery in her coat so we will see what happens over the next month as we all know what fillies can do in the spring. I really was impressed in the Cheveley Park as it was only her third run and she was entitled to improve again. She has done well physically but we haven't really started serious work yet. Her pedigree offers mixed messages regarding the trip and that is about all I can go on at this stage. I'd be hopeful she would get it though as she relaxes pretty well but there is nothing we can do to find out until we try it. I think the plan if all goes well is to go to the Fred Darling first as a prep as I would like her to go over seven before going over a mile.”

Trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam said 1000 Guineas contender Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who won last year's G3 Oh So Sharp S., will have a prep for the Classic.

“I'm thrilled with the way she has come back from her winter break at Ben and Lucy's Sangster's in Manton,” Chapple-Hyam said. “She has put on a nice 77 pounds and she has matured into a filly that should be competitive for the Guineas. The plan will be to start her off in the [G3] Nell Gwyn [S.] and then two weeks later head for the Guineas. It was a quick turnaround between her two runs in her maiden and the Oh So Sharp last season so we know she can do it. I think she is a serious filly that is potentially top drawer. She has wintered well and developed nicely. She has got all the right attributes. She has done it on different ground types and I think if it is real good ground you will really see her scoot along. She is not complicated as she doesn't have to lead or have cover or come with a late run. If you look at her last run she hit the rising ground going away so I don't see the mile being a problem at all.”

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The colt, a half-brother to 2000 Guineas winner and young Coolmore stallion Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), is the seventh consecutive winner of the G1 Darley Dewhurst S. to be named as the top-rated juvenile in Europe.

St Mark's Basilica's stable-mate Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was runner-up in both the Dewhurst and the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S., was joint-second in the rankings along with Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who is trained by Clive Cox and won the G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. to be the top-rated British-based colt on 118.

“St Mark's Basilica is the latest in a long line of European 2-year-old champions, dating back to Fasliyev in 1999, to emerge from the Aidan O'Brien academy,” said IHRB Handicapper Mark Bird. “We rated his effort in landing the Darley Dewhurst Stakes as marginally the best form shown by a European 2-year-old in 2020 and just ahead of that shown by the 12 other Group 1-winning 2-year-olds in Europe this year.”

He added, “At this stage of his career, he rates higher than his half-brother Magna Grecia, who won the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, and he appears to hold every chance of emulating his sibling in winning that event in 2021, with normal progression as a 3-year-old.”

The BHA's Handicapper Graeme Smith noted, “Supremacy became the latest in a long line of Group 1-winning sprinters to emerge from Clive Cox's stable over the last decade and achieved a rating of 118 when defeating the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner Lucky Vega in a deep looking Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes. Very well bought for £65,000, he was the standout British-trained juvenile from Goodwood onwards and went into winter quarters as the highest-rated 2-year-old his prolific trainer has ever handled.”

The top-rated juvenile in France in 2020 was Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), the impressive winner of the G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for Frederic Rossi and owners Haras de la Gousserie and Guy Pariente, for which he was awarded a mark of 116.

There was a three-way tie to be the best juvenile filly of 2020 between Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}), Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), all of whom were rated 113.

Pretty Gorgeous and Shale, trained respectively by Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien, clashed in their last four starts, with the former winning both the G2 ARM Holding Debutante S. and G1 bet365 Fillies' Mile, while Shale triumphed in the G3 Frank Conroy Silver Flash S. and G1 Moyglare Stud S., with Pretty Gorgeous in second on both occasions.

Campanelle, trained in America by Wesley Ward for Stonestreet Stables, built on her success in the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot to win the G1 Darley Prix Morny.

The highest-rated filly in Britain, on 112, was Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), winner of the G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. for Andrew Balding and Jeff Smith. Two French-trained fillies were given the equal mark of 110: the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac winner Tiger Tanaka (Ire) and Plainchant (Fr), winner of the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte. The fillies are respectively by the Rathasker Stud father-and-son team of Clodovil (Ire) and Gregorian (Ire).

Eleven of the top 25 juveniles in Europe are trained In Ireland, with five of those being from Aidan O'Brien's stable. Ten are trained in Britain, while three are in France and one in America.

In 2019, European champion 2-year-old Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) was awarded a rating of 128, the second-highest since Celtic Swing (GB) (Damister) was rated 130 in 1994. Noting the difficulty of the 2020 Flat season, with the coronavirus pandemic delaying its start by two months, Mark Bird added, “In summary, 2020 could not be said to have been a vintage year for 2-year-olds. While numerically, the 44 horses that made the Classifications are in line with recent averages, the truncated nature of the season and the slightly muddled nature of some of the form lines mean that the Champion juveniles of the year rank at the lower end of the historical scale.”

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The dark clouds had gathered come Ireland’s opening turf fixture of the year at Naas in March, with the meeting held behind closed doors and giving rise to now customary scenes. As the curtain was raised, an oft-repeated sketch unfolded with Jim Bolger homebred Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) annexing the first juvenile event of the year, a feat which the trainer had previously achieved on multiple occasions including with Poetic Flare’s sire in 2012. Normal service resumed but, then again, not. The global pandemic soon tightened its grip and a wide-ranging lockdown left much of Europe at a standstill, Scandinavia being a notable exception, until Germany set the powerhouses rolling again in May.

Germany doesn’t schedule early juvenile contests as a matter of course and so France led the way in that sphere. Haras de la Gousserie and Guy Pariente’s Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) registered a comfortable two-length score over six furlongs at Saint-Cloud in the first such event as the season, belatedly, geared up once more. He’d go on to claim an emphatic eight-length tally in ParisLongchamp’s G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day before posting a commendable fifth in Keeneland’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. One day later, Haras de Colleville-based Goken (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) became Europe’s first freshman sire off the mark when subsequent Listed Prix La Fleche and G3 Prix du Bois victrix Livachope (Fr) annexed a five-furlong dash at Chantilly.

Fellow freshmen Dariyan (Fr) and Bow Creek (Ire), both sons of Shamardal, followed suit at Lyon-Parilly and Baden-Baden, respectively, before the year’s breakout star Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) notched a quickfire double in early June. Bridge Dress Me (Ire) became the Tally-Ho Stud resident’s first-of-many at Rome’s Capanelle venue and fellow Goffs graduate Muker (Ire) repeated the dose, within the hour, at Newcastle. Chemeh (Ire)‘s Boxing Day victory over 8 1/2 furlongs at Siracusa extended his European record haul to an astounding 56 individual first-crop winners for the shortened season.

The usual run to early June heralds last calls for Royal Ascot preparations, but this year became the hunting ground for gameday time and many heats were oversubscribed and primed for splitting. In a welcome move, the Royal meeting’s 2-year-old contests were scheduled for the latter part of a subdued week and opportunity knocked in the Listed Windsor Castle S. for The Queen’s Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), who added Newmarket’s G2 July S. before finishing off the board in three starts at the highest level. Listed Chesham S. victor Battleground (War Front), the first foal out of Arc heroine Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Ballydoyle’s lone juvenile success of the week, fared better in the aftermath by annexing Goodwood’s G2 Vintage S. in some style and running second in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Dandalla (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), another Karl Burke diamond mined for little outlay, produced the younger generation’s best Royal performance with a six-length G3 Albany S. win, doubling up in Newmarket’s G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. and closing her campaign with a G1 Cheveley Park S. fifth.

“I think he’d look better running in someone else’s silks,” joked trainer Michael Bell after The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) provided his Ballyhane Stud freshman with a first winner in the process of lowering the all-aged track record at Great Yarmouth at the beginning of June. He franked that form and emulated his sire’s 2016 G2 Norfolk S. success, doing so in the Qatar Racing colours second time out. Runner-up finishes in the G2 Prix Robert Papin and G1 Phoenix S. followed and preceded off-the-board efforts in the G1 Middle Park S. and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Frequent flyer Wesley Ward is usually outta there come former ‘Heath Day’, but his enforced delay was rewarded with a fourth renewal of the G2 Queen Mary S. when Stonestreet Stables’ Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) backed up a Gulfstream Park debut score in the five-furlong dash. She also annexed Deauville’s G1 Prix Morny and closed out the year with a fourth in Keeneland’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Marie McCartan’s Nando Parrado (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) had given little indication of future highs when a debut fifth at Newmarket earlier in the month and outstripped that form, and then some, by claiming G2 Coventry S. glory at the meeting’s new record high odds of 150-1. Tried at the highest level in two subsequent starts, he ran second to Campanelle in the G1 Prix Morny and then to Sealiway in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Royal Ascot winners claimed three of the six Newmarket July and Glorious Goodwood juvenile fixtures, with outliers headed by subsequent G1 Vincent O’Brien National S. fourth Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Superlative S. at HQ and subsequent G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) making all in the G2 Richmond S. at Goodwood.

Richard Hannon trainee Ventura Tormenta (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) tarnished The Lir Jet’s record in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly while Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}) subdued Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the G2 Railway S. at The Curragh. Lucky Vega exacted revenge, three weeks later, in the G1 Phoenix S. over the same six-furlong course and distance. The Co. Kildare venue also played host to a hot renewal of August’s G2 Futurity S., which went the way of Jim Bolger’s newest standardbearer Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) at the expense of subsequent G2 Golden Fleece S. winner Cadillac (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Golden Fleece runner-up and G1 Criterium International hero Van Gogh (American Pharoah).

Other August highlights include the G3 Acomb S. win of subsequent G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud victor Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}); the G2 Gimcrack S. score for subsequent G1 Middle Park S. third Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}); the G2 Prix du Calvados victory of subsequent G1 Prix Marcel Boussac unlucky-in-running fourth Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}); and the early rounds of the Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) versus Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) ding-dong, with the former, trained by Donnacha O’Brien, drawing first blood in the G3 Silver Flash S. and the Joseph O’Brien-trained latter gaining revenge in the G2 Debutante S. at The Curragh. They’d meet again down the line with Shale reasserting in September’s G1 Moyglare Stud S. and Pretty Gorgeous levelling up in October’s G1 Fillies’ Mile.

September presented an informative edition of the G1 Vincent O’Brien National S., with Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) exhibiting rare acceleration to rise above a hot field featuring subsequent G1 Dewhurst S. first and second St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), as well as the aforementioned Master of the Seas, Lucky Vega, Laws of Indices and Mac Swiney. Thunder Moon closed his year with a third in the Dewhurst.

In common with Thunder Moon, Jeff Smith’s Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) had not appeared until August and backed up a Newbury debut score for the Andrew Balding stable with a second to the battle-hardened dual sales-race winner Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) in early September’s G3 Dick Poole Fillies’ S. at Salisbury. She reversed that form at the end of the month when defeating G2 Lowther S. victrix and subsequent GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf third Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) in the G1 Cheveley Park S., with Happy Romance fourth.

Other notable performances during the month included George Strawbridge’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Indigo Girl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a homebred full-sister to G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares heroine Journey (GB), snagging Doncaster’s G2 May Hill S. en route to a second in the G1 Fillies’ Mile; Michael Pescod’s G1 Dewhurst ninth Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) securing a third G2 Champagne S. for Richard Hannon; and the G2 Beresford S. victory of the hitherto unbeaten ‘TDN Rising Star’ High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Suffering just one reversal in her first seven starts, Charley Rossi trainee Tiger Tanaka (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) notched a trio of claiming scores in the provinces and scaled the heights when steered by Rossi’s partner Jessica Marcialis to a popular success in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day. She closed her year with a fourth to Gear Up in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud later in October. Best of Lips (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}), who had saluted in Cologne’s G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten, was another left in Gear Up’s wake at Saint-Cloud. Elsewhere in Germany, Manfred Schmelzer’s Noble Heidi (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) edged Baden-Baden’s G3 Preis der Winterkonigin and entered winter quarters having won three of her four races. Sealiway, Pretty Gorgeous, St Mark’s Basilica and Van Gogh also enjoyed their elite-level moments during the month, but, with ever-tightening controls coming into force, the season concluded as it began and resumed: under something of a cloud.

However, Jim Bolger trainee Poetic Flare opened up the year in style and was on parade in the final days, winning Leopardstown’s G3 Killavullan S. a week before Mac Swiney’s G1 Futurity swansong. Thus, Bolger bookended the season with a hint of nostalgia and the Coolcullen maestro once again has a live contender for the Derby. Maybe, just maybe, hope of a return to some form of normality is not forlorn.

Dark Horses

Britain: Michael Tabor’s Star Seeking (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) was a shade testy during the preliminaries when making her debut in a seven-furlong novice fillies’ heat at Leicester in September. However, she displayed an impressive turn of foot before being heavily eased for a one-length win in the process of earning ‘TDN Rising Star’ status. The Sir Michael Stoute trainee, unseen since and light on entries, hails from a family featuring MG1SW sire Linngari (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}) and 2020’s G2 King Edward VII S. and G2 Great Voltigeur S. victor Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}).

Ireland: Coolmore’s Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}), is another once-raced ‘TDN Rising Star’ and posted a highly encouraging 2 1/2-length debut score in a mile maiden at The Curragh in September. Held in high regard by rider Seamus Heffernan, the March-foaled bay retains entries for the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Irish Oaks. She is a granddaughter of GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare and GI Matriarch S. heroine Starine (Fr) (Mendocino).

France: Juddmonte homebred Petricor (GB) (Frankel {GB}) caused something of a stir when powering to a taking 1 1/2-length success in a 7 1/2-furlong debutantes’ heat at Deauville, but has remained under wraps since that ‘TDN Rising Star’ display in August. The Andre Fabre trainee hails from a family featuring MG1SW sires Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler’s Wells), Workforce (GB) (King’s Best) and Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

Germany: The dying embers of Germany’s turf schedule yielded two late-season efforts of note. Klaus-Henning Schmoock’s homebred Wintermond (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) encountered testing conditions in a nine-furlong maiden at Hoppegarten in November and made light of soft-to-heavy going en route to an impressive eight-length rout. The Stefan Richter trainee is kin to MGSW G2 International Topkapi Trophy victor Wonnemond (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) from the family of MG1SW sire Windwurf (Ger) (Kaiseradler {Ger}) and 2019 G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).

No less impressive was Stall Lucky Owner’s Kir Royal (Ger) (Lord of England {Ger}), who also caught the eye on debut in November and outclassed his rivals in a seven-furlong maiden on soft ground at Munich. One of eight winners for his stakes-placed dam, the Henk Grewe trainee is from the family of G2 German 1000 Guineas heroine Kali (Ger) (Areion {Ger}).

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GK: You’ve had plenty of top horses through the gates of Glenvale over the years. Who, in your opinion, was the best?

FC: I’ve been fortunate to have consigned Royal Ascot winners like The Wow Signal (Ire), Waterloo Bridge (Ire), Telescope (Ire) and Thomas Chippendale (Ire), but Alice Springs (Ire) and Leading Light (Ire) were multiple Group 1 winners so they would have to be the best.

GK: 2020 has been another banner year with the likes of Minzaal and Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}). They must have been a welcome distraction in what has been a challenging period for everyone?

FC: It’s been a very tough year on everybody involved in the business so it was great to see John Oxley have his success with Pretty Gorgeous. He’s a big owner in America but is relatively new to Europe and we always need new owners coming into the game.

On the other hand, Minzaal has helped Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum have another brilliant year and that’s just as important as he’s been a marvellous supporter of the business for so long.

GK: As you said, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Pretty Gorgeous has been a real flagbearer, especially her tussles with Donnacha’s Shale (Ire). What were your impressions of her as a younger horse, as she developed from a €55,000 Arqana December foal, purchased by Mags O’Toole, to a 525,000gns yearling at Tattersalls Book 1?

FC: Well it’s this simple, she’s very well named! She was always gorgeous. She was a big, strong filly with great limbs and extra action.

GK: Without giving away too many secrets, what do you typically look for when pinhooking a foal to a yearling?

FC: For me it’s about getting the right mix of physical and pedigree. I look for a foal with quality and scope. It needs to have a good walk and temperament, and ideally will be by a sire that’ll be hot the following year.

GK: You’ve been fortunate to work with some legends of the Thoroughbred industry over the years. If you had to pick one person who you learned the most from, who would that be?

FC: I got a great education with Tim Hyde of Camas Park Stud; he’s a gentleman and a wonderful judge of both horses and pedigrees. Paul Shanahan is a great friend and must be one of the most knowledgeable men in the business.

GK: It’s been a tricky year so far but the European yearling sales have held up pretty well. What’s your overall opinion of the market?

FC: Yes, they have held up well, considering we are in the middle of a global pandemic, and hopefully things will be much better by this time next year. Great credit must be given to everyone who has worked so hard to make sure that the racing and sales are continuing.

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