Who Could End 2022 as the Horse of the Year in the UK?

It has been an excellent start to the Flat season in the UK, and there have already been some early markers for the performance of the year.

Here is a look at four horses who have put down an early marker for ending 2022 as the Horse of the Year in the UK.

Baaeed

Last season’s Champion miler Baaeed has made an excellent start to the campaign, as he was victorious in the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. William Haggas’ runner is now unbeaten in seven starts. The sky is the limit with this horse when it comes to how good he could be.

The son of Sea the Stars is set to appear next in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He is the odds-on favourite at the 2/5 in the bet on horse racing market for the opener at the meeting. The Juddmonte International and Champion Stakes are also two possible targets for this exciting colt who could be the best miler we have seen in the sport since Frankel.

Coroebus

Charlie Appleby once again became a British Classic winner when he saddled Coroebus to victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. The three-year-old beat his stablemate Native Trail in the race, inflicting the first defeat in the horse’s career.

Coroebus has already proved he is one of the best of his generation. The bigger tests are likely to come when he steps into open-age company later this season. If he can have success against the older horses, there is a good chance he will end the year at the top of the standings.

Emily Upjohn

One of the most outstanding fillies so far this season has been Emily Upjohn. She will get her chance to prove she is ahead of her age group when she lines up in the Oaks at Epsom. Prior to the British Classic, she had won all three of her racecourse appearances, including the Group Three Musidora Stakes at York.

Frankie Dettori has ridden a lot of good horses in his career. He has described her as very special. If she lives up to the high praise from the 15-time British Classic winner, her best may still be to come later this year.

Stradivarius

At the age of eight, Stradivarius continues to shine in the 2m+ division. He got off the mark for the season with victory in the Group Two Yorkshire Cup at the Dante Festival, maintaining his 100% record on the Knavesmire.

Stradivarius has been victorious in the Ascot Gold Cup on three occasions. Only one horse in history has prevailed in that race four times, that was the great Yeats. If he can replicate that record at Royal Ascot this year, it could lead him to be crowned Horse of the Year.

With so much racing still to come this season on the Flat, it is going to be very exciting to see the above four horses and many more compete for the most prestigious races.