Winter Watch: 10 All-Weather Winners with Top-Class Potential

[Wandering Eyes]

The return of Seven Days earlier this week allows us to close the book on the stopgap that was Winter Watch. Before you know it the first Classics of the season will be upon us, leaving the cold, dark months that spanned 13 editions of this column since it first came into being in November as nothing but a distant memory.

Albeit not too distant, I hope. After all, the whole reason why we embarked on this journey in the first place was with those very Classics in mind, informed by the achievements of 2,000 Guineas hero Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) when the Godolphin runner went from Kempton maiden winner to king of the Rowley Mile in the space of 98 days last year.

Only time will tell whether we've seen another Classic winner in action on the all-weather this winter, but those of you who have been paying close enough attention will be well familiar with the likeliest pretenders by now. Here's looking at you, Opera Ballo (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), the colt who has emulated stable-mate Notable Speech by winning his first two races at Kempton in the style of a potential top-notcher.

Even if you haven't been on the ride with us before now, then this 14th and final installment of Winter Watch is the one for you. From a longlist of around 40, we've whittled it down to the 10 three-year-olds who left the most lasting impression with their exploits on the all-weather this winter, ready to run in a Classic trial near you this spring.

In the interests of trying to provide something outside the box, we've omitted the six horses in Europe who have been awarded 'TDN Rising Star' status since we started in November, as well as those who have already been successful in a stakes race.

 

DAMYSUS (GB)
Frankel (GB)–Legerete (Rahy)

Sales info: Bred in partnership by Newsells Park Stud and Merry Fox Stud, he was bought by Blandford Bloodstock, on behalf of owners Wathnan Racing, for 460,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Pedigree/form notes: This colt is one of eight winners from 11 runners out of the G2 Prix de Malleret heroine Legerete, who was also twice Group 1-placed in the Prix Marcel Boussac and Prix de l'Opera. Legerete is the dam of three black-type performers thus far, including the Listed scorer and G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano runner-up Pilote (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Damysus ran out an emphatic winner when making his debut in a Southwell novice (7f) in December, impressing with his strength at the finish as he ran right away from a useful sort trained by Charlie Appleby to land the spoils by two and a half lengths. He holds a Derby entry and will be one to look out for in a trial of some description this spring, promising to be suited by at least 10f.

 

Winning start! Pricey Frankel colt Damysus delivers in style first time up at @Southwell_Races for @the_doyler, the Gosdens and Wathnan Racing! pic.twitter.com/qk48B8b34M

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 10, 2024

 

GLITTERING SURF (GB)
Oasis Dream (GB)–Sparkling Surf (GB) (Frankel {GB})

Sales info: Bred by former trainer Peter Winkworth, she was bought back for 100,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Pedigree/form notes: This filly is said to be the first horse trainer Owen Burrows has had for Winkworth, who bred her out of the Frankel mare Sparkling Surf, a half-sister to the G1 Prix Vermeille winner Kitesurf (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G2 Dante Stakes third Surfman (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Winkworth also trained the second dam, Shimmering Surf (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), before his retirement from training in 2011. She later won the G3 Pinnacle Stakes and was twice placed at Group 2 level when in the care of Roger Varian.

Sent off the 11-8 favourite when debuting in a fillies' maiden (1m) at Kempton in December, Glittering Surf was in front from an early stage, taking an enthusiastic hold of the bridle, before quickly putting daylight between herself and the chasing pack when shaken up over two furlongs out. Whilst the runner-up made some late inroads, Glittering Surf was still over three lengths clear at the line. She doesn't hold any fancy entries at this stage but could be the type to make significant progress as a three-year-old, with Burrows describing her as “a big, long-striding filly”.

 

Smart horse alert

Glittering Surf (Oasis Dream) makes some impression on debut under Richard Kingscote to run out the emphatic winner of the race won last year by Friendly Soul @kemptonparkrace

An exciting prospect for @OwenBurrowsRace @unibet | @BritishEBF pic.twitter.com/5sZjwAffET

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 18, 2024

 

KON TIKI (GB)
Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Maid Up (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire})

Sales info: Offered by breeders Brightwalton Bloodstock at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale, she was bought by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, on behalf of owner Peter Harris, for 220,000gns.

Pedigree/form notes: This filly is the second foal out of the G3 March Stakes winner and G2 Lillie Langtry Stakes second Maid Up (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), whose first runner, Champagne Prince (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), has a BHA rating of 107 after his exploits on the all-weather for Harris and trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam this winter.

Kon Tiki only won by half a length when making her debut in a fillies' novice (7f) at Wolverhampton in December, but she was value for extra after conceding first run to the second, Mother Mara (GB) (Mohaather {GB}), who brought plenty of experience to the table as well on her third career start. Kon Tiki should leave that form well behind in time and her entry in the 1,000 Guineas underlines that she's a filly held in high regard by her connections. She's sure to stay at least 1m on pedigree.

 

LEFFARD (FR)
Le Havre (Ire)–Let's Misbehave (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire})

Sales info: Bred by Ecurie Haras du Cadran and Ecurie Melanie, he went the way of trainer Jean-Claude Rouget for €150,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale.

Pedigree/form notes: This colt is out of an unraced mare whose siblings by Sadler's Wells include the multiple Group 1-winning sire High Chaparral (Ire) and G2 Dante Stakes winner Black Bear Island (Ire), as well as Chenchikova (Ire), the dam of the Prix de Diane winner Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Leffard made a winning debut in a newcomers' event (10f) at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in January–a race named after the stable's 2023 scorer, Ace Impact (Ire)–beating stable-mate and next-time-out winner Kalaoun (GB) (Kitten's Joy) by a short neck. He then proved too strong for five other previous winners when following up in a conditions race (10.5f) at Toulouse earlier this month, showing a smart change of gear to win a shade cosily by three quarters of a length. He's one of nine entries for Rouget in the Prix du Jockey Club and it will be interesting to see how high he can climb for a trainer with a formidable record in that Classic.

 

1-2 for Jean-Claude Rouget at Cagnes-Sur-Mer!

The well-supported Leffard is just about able to hold off stablemate Kalaoun with the pair pulling well clear!

Join us for more French racing – live on Sky Sports Racing! pic.twitter.com/oYSRkQIVNt

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 20, 2025

 

LES PETITS PRINCES (FR)
Bated Breath (GB)–Hurbling (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire})

Sales info: Bred by Haras du Mont Dit Mont, he was a €14,000 purchase at the Arqana August Yearling Sale.

Pedigree/form notes: This colt is one of four winners from six runners out of the unraced Hurbling, from the family of the multiple Group 1 winners Hermosa (Ire) and Hydrangea (Ire), both by Galileo (Ire). Their dam is the G2 Prix du Gros-Chene heroine Beauty Is Truth (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), a half-sister to this colt's winning grandam.

After coming from last to first when making a successful debut in a maiden (1m) at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in February, Les Petits Princes was then followed home by four last-time-out winners when maintaining his unbeaten record in a conditions race (1m) at Chantilly on Monday, showing a likeable attitude to get the verdict by a short neck. He's entered in next month's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau–a race in which his full-brother Summiter (Ire) finished third in 2021–and another bold display there would entitle him to a tilt at the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.

 

Prix Des Issambres @hippocotdazur
Cagnes Sur Mer – Maiden – 3 ans – 1600m – 8 Pts – 23 000 €

Les Petits Princes (m) Anthony Crastus @CrastusAnthony
(Bated Breath (Gb) @JuddmonteFarms – Hurbling (Ire) par Hurricane Run (Ire))

Nicolas Perret
Ecurie… pic.twitter.com/RwX4KLd5Ve

— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) February 10, 2025

 

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (GB)
Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Beautiful Morning (GB) (Galileo {GB})

Pedigree/form notes: Lady Bamford's homebred filly is the third winner from as many runners out of the G3 Royal Whip Stakes scorer Beautiful Morning who, in turn, is out of the Listed-placed Date With Destiny (Ire), perhaps best known as the sole offspring produced at stud by the 2,000 Guineas hero George Washington (Ire).

One of a handful of promising fillies the Gosdens have unleashed this winter, Life Is Beautiful looked better the further she went when landing a fillies' maiden (1m) at Kempton in November. Settled in mid-division in the early stages, she was pushed along early in the straight and kept finding all the way to the line to turn over the short-priced favourite from the Ralph Beckett yard, ultimately winning by three quarters of a length. She promises to be suited by middle-distances and is a name to watch out for when the Oaks entries are published, representing a stable which has won four of the last 11 runnings of that Classic, including with two fillies who started out on the all-weather.

 

Winning start

Life Is Beautiful (Night Of Thunder x Beautiful Morning) makes a nice debut for team Gosden at @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/ukspxK866X

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 6, 2024

 

NOBLE CHAMPION (IRE)
Lope De Vega (Ire)–Cute (GB) (Diktat {GB})

Sales info: Bred by Thomas Foy and the Lope De Vega Syndicate, he was a successful pinhook for Andrew Black's Chasemore Farm, who bought him for 140,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. He later sold to SackvilleDonald, on behalf of owners TBT Racing, for 500,000gns at Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale.

Pedigree/form notes: This colt is one of six winners from eight runners out of Cute, with the G2 Challenge Stakes scorer Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) standing out as her headline performer thus far. Cute is a half-sister to another winner of the Challenge Stakes in Arabian Gleam (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), as well as Pikaboo (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), the dam of the dual Classic heroine Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

After a promising debut in a Newmarket novice (7f) in November, Noble Champion then showed the benefit of that experience with a smooth performance from the front when winning a Lingfield novice (7f) later in the month, sprinting clear late on to beat a subsequent winner by five and a half lengths. He's since been given an entry in the 2,000 Guineas and, if he proves half as talented and durable as Pogo, then his connections should have plenty of fun days ahead with this colt.

 

EBF Novice Stakes @LingfieldPark @BritishEBF
Lingfield – Classe 5 – 2 ans – 1409 m – 10 Pts

Noble Champion (m) Hector Crouch @HectorCrouch
(Lope De Vega (Ire) @BallylinchStud – Cute (Gb) par Diktat (Gb))

E Walker @edwalkerracing
TBT Racing… pic.twitter.com/LAyg7h3BbB

— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) November 21, 2024

 

PINHOLE (GB)
Frankel (GB)–Nimble Thimble (Mizzen Mast)

Pedigree/form notes: This Juddmonte homebred is a full-brother to the G1 Fillies' Mile winner Quadrilateral (GB) and a half to the eight-time winner and Listed-placed Boardman (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Their dam, Nimble Thimble, is a half-sister to the GII Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap hero and sire Three Valleys, while the second dam is a Listed-placed half-sister to the Juddmonte blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}).

Pinhole was trained by Sir Michael Stoute when finishing fifth on his debut in a Newmarket novice (7f) in October, before wasting no time getting off the mark for Ralph Beckett when winning a similar event (1m) at Southwell in December. That was a dominant performance to win by two and a quarter lengths, with another five lengths back to the third, and he's very much the type to go on improving, having been described by Beckett as “a big, strong horse”. A step up in distance won't do him any harm, either, and this Derby entry is very much one to follow as the year progresses.

 

Straightforward success!

Quadrilateral's full brother Pinhole scores second time of asking in workmanlike fashion for @Rossaryan15, @RalphBeckett and @JuddmonteFarms… pic.twitter.com/8cK6UrL4CU

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 14, 2024

 

PURVIEW (GB)
Kingman (GB)–Variable (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire})

Pedigree/form notes: At this stage the Juddmonte team is responsible for five Derby entries and this homebred is another for Dermot Weld, who trained the dam to win the Listed Finale Stakes at the Curragh. Variable, in turn, is out of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Proportional (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}).

The Dundalk maiden (1m) won by Purview on his debut back in November probably wasn't the strongest contest of its type–the runner-up has been given a turf mark of just 76 after two further starts–but this colt was clearly in a different league to his rivals, just needing to be kept up to his work in the straight to run out an authoritative winner by two and three-quarter lengths. There is arguably no finer judge of a Thoroughbred than Weld and it's perhaps telling that he has this colt entered in everything from the Poule d'Essai des Poulains to the Irish Derby. He will stay at least 10f and looks to have a very bright future indeed.

 

Purview breaks his maiden tag at the first time of asking in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden under Chris Hayes for trainer Dermot Weld! @IrishEBF_ pic.twitter.com/zrGEGJtnsH

— Dundalk Stadium (@DundalkStadium) November 22, 2024

 

TIGRESS OF GAUL (FR)
Siyouni (Fr)–Lucerne (GB) (Frankel {GB})

Sales info: A €700,000 purchase at the Arqana August Yearling Sale, she was bred by Ecurie des Monceaux, who have retained a share in her with owner Jose Aguirre-Moreno.

Pedigree/form notes: This filly is the second winner from as many runners out of an unraced half-sister to the top-class miler and sire Charm Spirit (Ire), who won the G1 Prix Jean Prat, G1 Prix du Moulin and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in a brilliant three-year-old campaign.

After winning a newcomers' race (1m) at Chantilly in December, Tigress Of Gaul then made it two from two when justifying very short odds with relative ease in a conditions event over the same course and distance last month, quickly asserting under a hands-and-heels ride to beat another last-time-out winner, Poschiavo (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), by three quarters of a length. Entered in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Tigress Of Gaul looks every inch a black-type performer and could be a flagbearer this year for Tim Donworth, a rising star of the training ranks in France.

 

Smart performance to make it two from two!

Entered in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Tigress Of Gaul wins cosily at @fgchantilly | @TimDonworth94 pic.twitter.com/YF0k3D19Wp

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 27, 2025

 

TDN RISING STARS (EUROPE) SINCE NOVEMBER
Date, Track, Horse, Sire
03/04 CHY We'll Defend (Fr) Zelzal (Fr)
02/14 CHY Tito Mo Cen (Ire) Uncle Mo
01/29 KEM Opera Ballo (Ire) Ghaiyyath (Ire)
12/04 KEM Bowmark (GB) Kingman (GB)
11/21 WOL Falakeyah (GB) New Bay (GB)
11/12 CHY Mandanaba (Fr) Ghaiyyath (Ire)

The post Winter Watch: 10 All-Weather Winners with Top-Class Potential appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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