Who are the Top Three-Year-Olds of 2022?
At the time of writing, in late April, 2022, none of the ‘Classic’ races, which define the British Flat racing season as far as the top three-year-olds are concerned, have yet been contested. Indeed, similar comments apply to all bar one or two of the traditional, early season Classic trials, so this article could, effectively, be titled ‘Top Two-Year-Olds of 2021’. Take a break from playing slots or any other gambling based hobby you have on the go and check out these top rated horses.
That said, the highest-rated juvenile of 2021, according to Timeform, Native Trail (122p), has already extended his unbeaten sequence to five with a cosy, 3½-length victory in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on his reappearance in mid-April. Trainer Charlie Appleby declared himself ‘happy throughout’ with the ante-post 2,000 Guineas favourite, who is currently trading at even money for the first colts’ Classic, but was also ‘very pleased’ with how stable companion Coroebus worked in a racecourse gallop on the Rowley Mile the same day.
According to Timeform, Coroebus (116p) is rated a notch below Native Trail, but looked every inch a bona fide 2,000 Guineas contender when comfortably winning the Group 3 Autumn Stakes on the Rowley Mile last October. Like his stable companion, he is likely to make more than normal progress and should not be underestimated. Similar comments apply to Luxembourg (118p), who currently shares second favouritism for the 2,000 Guineas with Coroebus, at 5/1, but is outright favourite for the Derby, at 3/1. Trainer Aidan O’Brien has already said that ‘it’s a big ask for him [Luxembourg] to start off in a Guineas’, but added that the son of Camelot ‘finds it easy to go fast, which is a good sign’.
As far as top three-year-old fillies are concerned, Inspiral (116p), long-time ante-post favourite for the 1,000 Guineas on May 1, misses the race after an interrupted preparation and will reportedly be aimed at the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot instead. In her absence, the Cheveley Park Stakes winner, Tenebrism (115p), also trained by Aidan O’Brien has been promoted to favouritism, at 3/1 or thereabouts.