Who Have Been the Standout Horses This Summer on the Flat?
The Flat season in the UK has produced some special moments this year. Not only have the latest crop of three-year-olds proved their class, but the big meetings, such as Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, have provided some exceptional performances.
Here is a look at the standout horses of the summer so far.
Baaeed
Champion miler Baaeed has firmly established himself as the leading racehorse in the world rankings. He has picked up from where he left off this year, with wins coming in the Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes. William Haggas’ runner has been dominant in the 1m division.
The options for Baaeed at the end of the season include the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Breeders’ Cup. He is 25/1 in the horse racing betting for the former, if connections choose to take the trip to Paris for the premier middle-distance race in Europe.
Baaeed’s next assignment will come in the International Stakes at the Ebor Festival where he is 2/5 in the York races betting. That will be his first test at 1m2f, and how he fares in that race could determine the path for the rest of his career.
Desert Crown
The Derby is the biggest race of the season for three-year-olds, and it was won in impressive style by Desert Crown back in June. The son of Nathaniel has ensured Sir Michael Stoute has a very exciting horse on his hands for the future.
The form of this year’s Derby has worked out very well. Westover, who finished third, went on to win the Irish Derby, while Nations Pride, who came home in eighth place, prevailed in the Grade One Saratoga Derby.
Unfortunately, a setback has ruled Desert Crown out for the rest of the season, but the good news is, connections of the colt have confirmed they plan to keep the horse in train as a four-year-old.
Kyprios
Irish raider Kyprios is at the top of the stayers’ division, following wins in the Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup. Aidan O’Brien’s runner went into the royal meeting without an appearance over 2m, but he proved he had the stamina, with a success in the day three feature.
At the age of four, Kyprios could have many more Gold Cup wins in him. Yeats prevailed in the race four times for O’Brien, and the 2022 winner has shown he has the potential to match what the great stayer achieved.
Little Big Bear
Arguably the most impressive two-year-old performance of the season came in Ireland in the Group One Phoenix Stakes. Little Big Bear prevailed in the race at the Curragh by a margin of seven lengths.
O’Brien has had some exceptional horses in his Ballydoyle facility over the last few decades, and he looks to have a new superstar on his hands. The colt looks capable of winning multiple Classics next season.
With so much of the Flat season left to go, we could see many more great performances before the campaign comes to a close.