100WINNERS HORSES TO FOLLOW - FLAT 2021 - | Pitch Publishing

100
WINNERS

HORSES TO FOLLOW – FLAT 2021

100
  WINNERS
HORSES TO FOLLOW – FLAT 2021

   Fifty-ninth year of publication

            Contributors:
           Rodney Pettinga
            Richard Young

100 WINNERS
    HORSES TO FOLLOW – FLAT 2021
                            (ages as at 2021)

ADAYAR (IRE)
3 b c Frankel - Anna Salai (Dubawi)
This Frankel colt out of a Group Three winner over 1m in France
ran just twice last season, both times over 1m at Nottingham.
Well backed on his debut in mid-October, he was slowly into
stride, stumbled at about halfway and very much looked in need
of the experience as he finished a well-beaten fourth of eleven. He
reappeared just two weeks later and clearly had benefitted massively
from that initial experience as he hosed up by nine lengths in what
was, on paper, a slightly stronger race. A couple of the beaten horses
have won since to give the form a solid look too. He stayed the
mile well, but it will be over middle distances that he will probably
find his niche as a three-year-old (he holds an Irish Derby entry).
William Buick, who rode him on both of his starts, said after the
Nottingham romp: ‘He’s a lovely looking colt, well-bred and will be a
nice horse for next year.’ CHARLIE APPLEBY
ALCOHOL FREE (IRE)
3 b f No Nay Never - Plying (Hard Spun)
After winning a maiden at Newbury in August which worked out
exceptionally well, Alcohol Free ran in the Group Three Dick Poole
Stakes at Salisbury where she narrowly lost out to Happy Romance,
the winner of the Weatherbys Super Sprint earlier in the season and
a rival with far more experience, having run five times previously.
Alcohol Free clearly learned plenty from that race as she took on
better fillies in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes (6f) on her
next assignment and she passed the test with flying colours as she
gamely saw off Miss Amulet and Umm Kulthum in a thrilling finish.
Her half-sibling Alexander James was a winner over 1m and 1m1f
and it seems likely that this filly will now be stepped up to a mile,
with the 1,000 Guineas looking a realistic early-season target. She’s
currently around 20/1 for that contest. ANDREW BALDING

                                                                    3

100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021

ALOE VERA
5 b f Invincible Spirit - Almiranta (Galileo)
Assuming she stands up to the rigours of training, Aloe Vera is
just the type to make up into a Group-winning performer over
middle distances this season. Considered too backward to run as a
juvenile, Ralph Beckett’s mare quickly made up for lost time when
winning a Chepstow maiden and the Listed Height Of Fashion
Stakes at Goodwood on her first two racecourse starts in May 2019.
However, she didn’t see the track again until late September last
year, where she confirmed she retained at least all her ability when
chasing home a smart Charlie Appleby six-year-old in Walton Street
(a Dubai winner this January) when upped to 1m4f for the first
time in the Listed Godolphin Stakes at Newmarket. Although the
remainder of the season passed her by, she remains open to plenty
of further improvement and, given she’s well worth a try over
further, a race like the Group Three Bronte Cup over a trip just shy
of 1m6f for fillies and mares at York’s Dante meeting in May could
be a useful and informative starting point. RALPH BECKETT
ALPINE STAR (IRE)
4 ch f Sea The Moon - Alpha Lupi (Rahy)
Although she won just one of her four starts in 2020, Alpine
Star nevertheless enhanced her reputation with a trio of near-
misses against some top-notch rivals, most of whom went on to
confirm the form in no uncertain terms. Her sole win came in
the Coronation Stakes in June, where she put four and a quarter
lengths and more between herself and her rivals, emulating her
half-sister Alpha Centauri, who won the same race in 2018. Next,
she went to France in July, where she lost out by a head to Fancy
Blue in the Prix De Diane over 1m2f 110y, and that filly franked
the form next time by winning the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood.
After that she ran in the Jacques Le Marois over 1m in August,
where she lost out by three quarters of a length to St James’s Palace
Stakes hero Palace Pier, with Circus Maximus five lengths behind
her in third and subsequent Prix Du Moulin winner Persian King a
further three lengths behind in fourth. Finally, she took on Tarnawa
in the Prix de l’Opera on Arc day where she lost out by a head, with
Audarya a length behind in third. Those two rivals went on to win
the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
respectively next time out. Alpine Star battled her heart out in
each of those three defeats and she richly deserves to pick up the
winning thread again as she resumes her career at four. JESSICA
HARRINGTON

4

100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021

ANGEL POWER
4 b f Lope De Vega - Burning Rules (Aussie Rules)
This daughter of Lope De Vega had a fantastic three-year-old
season with five wins from seven starts, including four from four
after she was stepped up to around 1m2f in August. Her first win
came in a novice stakes over 1m at Chelmsford in June, after which
she finished runner-up in a pair of 1m handicaps at Haydock and
Goodwood. She next ran in a fillies’ handicap over 1m2f at York
off 91 and routed the opposition by three and a half lengths and
more. After that she went to France and won a Listed race in early
September, which prompted her connections to step up to Group
Three company at Newmarket. She took it in her stride, beating 13
rivals with ease. She added a Group Two in Italy with similar ease
in November, a performance which suggests there is more to come
at four. After her Newmarket romp Roger Varian said, ‘Angel Power
is admirable and tough as old boots and has done nothing but
improve and I couldn’t be more pleased with how her season has
gone. I think she will be even better next year.’ ROGER VARIAN
ANNANDALE (IRE)
3 ch c Australia - Fountain Of Honour (Sadler’s Wells)
The end-of-term report concerning Annandale’s juvenile record could
read ‘Progressive sort. Has done everything asked of him. Likely to
do a good deal better at three.’ That’s a tag that has been applicable
to a huge number of horses from the Mark Johnston yard down the
years and there’s every reason to think he’s up to winning a good-
quality handicap over middle distances and beyond in 2021. The colt
didn’t necessarily have to step up on the form of his pleasing debut
third at Ayr’s prestigious Western Meeting to win over 1m2f at Bath
on ground that was just on the easy side in October. While the bare
facts of that win are nothing out of the ordinary, he did show a good
attitude, something that was also in evidence when he followed
up on his AW debut and returned to 1m on his nursery debut at
Newcastle on his final juvenile start, when allowed to dictate his own
fractions. Given he’s by Australia out of a Sadler’s Wells mare and
that he’s a half-brother to the owner’s 2m soft-ground winner Three
Castles, a good test of stamina is likely to suit and he’s one to note
from his current mark of 78. MARK JOHNSTON
ART POWER (IRE)
4 gr c Dark Angel - Evening Time (Keltos)
One of the most taking handicap performances of the season
was Art Power’s demolition job of a competitive field in the first

                                                                            5

100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021

running of the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap over 5f at Royal
Ascot last summer. Of course, subsequent events have shown he
was a Group horse posing as a handicapper but the form stacks
up as he gave both weight and a ready beating that day to a tough
and reliable yardstick in Keep Busy, who went on to finish a close
second in a Group One at the Curragh. Tim Easterby’s sprinter
then showed that he was just as good over 6f when bagging a
Group Three in Ireland but 5f on a sound surface on York’s speed-
favouring task was totally against him and he managed only sixth
behind Champion Sprinter Battaash in the Nunthorpe in August.
However, he showed that to be all wrong on his final two starts of
2020 in Group One events back over 6f (both run on soft ground).
He’s still relatively lightly raced and he’s very much the type to
develop into an even better sprinter this time round. The Group
Two Duke Of York Stakes over 6f back at the Yorkshire venue in
May could be a good place to start the campaign (four-year-old have
won the last four renewals), especially if there is give in the ground.
TIM EASTERBY
BABY ALYA (IRE)
3 ch f Rio De La Plata - Queen’s Logic (Grand Lodge)
Baby Alya has some way to go before she matches the achievements
of her illustrious parents, but she got her career off to the perfect
start when winning a maiden for fillies over 7f on Tapeta at
Newcastle on her debut in early September. Despite a tardy start
and her apparent greenness when first asked to go about her
business, she picked up really well in the last furlong before hitting
the front in the shadow of the post. That form has since been
franked by the runner-up who went on to win a novice event at
Lingfield before running well on her UAE and turf debut at Medyan
in January. Although Kevin Ryan’s filly hasn’t been seen since, she
looks to have a decent frame to grow into and she’s very much the
type to make up into a nice handicapper before hopefully going on
to tackle Group company. She should have no problems with 1m
and she remains a nice prospect. KEVIN RYAN
BARADAR (IRE)
3 b c Muhaarar - Go Lovely Rose (Pivotal)
Roger Varian has quickly established himself as one of the best
trainers in the country, which isn’t a great surprise given he spent
much time as an assistant to the late Michael Jarvis in Newmarket.
Varian has another strong squad at his disposal for the forthcoming
season and Baradar should be able to make his mark in Pattern races

6

100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021

judging by the ability he showed as a juvenile. Despite his free-going
nature, he’s proved well suited to a soft surface and after comfortable
maiden/novice wins at Newbury and York respectively, he showed he
could hold his own at the top level when finishing a fine third to Mac
Swiney and One Ruler in the Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy
Stakes at Doncaster on his final start in October. He’ll have to step
up again if he’s to reverse placings with the two aforementioned
horses in the 2,000 Guineas, but he’s the type physically to make up
into a better three-year-old. The Craven Stakes at Newmarket looks
the obvious platform on which to kickstart the season and, although
on pedigree he’s unlikely to stay much beyond 1m2f, he remains an
exciting prospect. ROGER VARIAN
BARRINGTON COURT (IRE)
7 ch m Mastercraftsman - Arabian Hideaway (Desert Prince)
Although she is now a seven-year-old, Barrington Court is very
lightly raced for her age and in 2020 she transformed herself from
a 125-rated hurdler into a Listed-level stayer on the Flat with the
promise of plenty more to come from her in 2021. Her first-ever
run on the Flat was a 1m4f maiden at Bellewstown in August which
she won going away by seven lengths from Dewcup, who won his
next two starts over hurdles. Her next assignment was a Listed
contest at Galway where she finished second to Princess Zoe, who
won the Group One Prix Du Cadran on her next start. She then
finished a close second behind Dawn Patrol in a Group Three over
2m in September, seemingly staying the extra yardage well. She
rounded off her season by comfortably winning a pair of Listed
races at Naas back over 1m4f in the autumn. It looks like a return
to hurdles will be postponed as she has been such a revelation on
the level and she should win more races this season with success at
Group level a distinct possibility. Races like the Vintage Crop Stakes,
the Curragh Cup and the Irish St Leger will surely come under
consideration. JESSICA HARRINGTON
BATTLEGROUND (USA)
3 b c War Front - Found (Galileo)
The first foal out of Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe winner Found,
Battlegound made a promising start when finishing fifth in a very
good maiden over 6f at Naas in June and he built on that just ten
days later when taking the Listed Chesham Stakes (7f) at Royal
Ascot. Next he went to Glorious Goodwood and comfortably won
the Group Two Vintage Stakes, also over 7f, after which he was made
one of the favourites for this season’s 2,000 Guineas. He wasn’t seen

                                                                           7

100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021

again until November at the Breeders’ Cup in Keeneland, where he
finished an excellent second behind Fire At Will in the Juvenile Turf
over 1m, despite covering a lot more ground than the winner having
had a wide trip throughout. Ryan Moore was typically succinct after
that run: ‘Battleground ran super. Very happy with him.’ The straight
mile at Newmarket will be much more to his liking and he remains
towards the head of the betting for the Guineas, which may well be
his first outing of this season. AIDAN O’BRIEN
BELLISSIME (IRE)
3 b f No Nay Never - Dancing On Air (Fastnet Rock)
This £150,000 breeze-up purchase made her debut for Kevin
Ryan in the Group Two Lowther Stakes over 6f at York in August,
which does immediately tell you about the high regard she is held
in. She ran a good race behind the likes of Miss Amulet, Sacred
and Umm Kulthum, keeping on well in the closing stages to
finish sixth after missing the break, but she never had the pace
to get into a challenging position. She was sent off at odds-on
the following month at Newcastle over the same trip and led at
the furlong pole, only to be worn down late on by Montassib,
with the pair pulling nicely clear of the rest. Perhaps it was
disappointing she couldn’t quite get the job done, but the third
and fourth have both won races since so the form looks sound
and, in any case, it may be that Bellissime needs a bit further to
be seen to best effect. She’s by No Nay Never, who was a sprinter,
but her dam was a 7f winner as a 2yo who mainly raced over 1m+
at three. A maiden win looks a formality, after which she should
be able make her mark in handicaps. KEVIN RYAN
BERKSHIRE ROCCO (FR)
4 ch c Sir Percy - Sunny Again (Shirocco)
Kameko’s victory in last year’s rescheduled 2,000 Guineas was
Andrew Balding’s first victory in a British Classic since Casual Look
landed the Oaks in 2003. And the Kingsclere trainer came within
a neck of bagging his third Classic when Berkshire Rocco was just
foiled by Galileo Chrome in the St Leger at Doncaster in September.
That effort was some way in advance of anything he had achieved
previously, suggesting a strong test of stamina is ideal and, although
he was only workmanlike when landing the odds at Ascot just under
three weeks later, it’s possible that the tough race at Doncaster and
the fact that he had been on the go since spring had left its mark.
Nevertheless, he remains a stayer of potential for 2021 and it’s very
likely that the step up to 2m will bring about further improvement.

8

100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021

He may start the year at the Dubai Carnival but, whatever happens
there, he’ll be an interesting addition to all the leading Cup races.
ANDREW BALDING
BLUE FOR YOU (IRE)
3 ch c New Approach - Love In The Sun (Kodiac)
The 7f maiden that Blue For You won at Galway at the end of
July has been very well advertised by the beaten horses, notably
the runner-up Wembley, who easily won his own maiden next
time before finishing second behind Thunder Moon in the
National Stakes and second again behind St Mark’s Basilica in the
Dewhurst. Blue For You, for whom the penny dropped quite late
on at Galway, wasn’t seen again but there will surely be more to
come from him when he resumes his career at three. What was
most pleasing about the Galway performance was his willingness
to battle in the closing stages and it is that attribute that will
stand him in good stead in the long run. DERMOT WELD
BOLSHOI BALLET (IRE)
3 b c Galileo - Alta Anna (Anabaa)
Everything about Bolshoi Ballet’s pedigree and his performances so
far suggest that he has the ability to make up into a high-class sort
over middle-distances and beyond this year. Aidan O’Brien’s colt
is a full brother to the yard’s former inmate Southern France, who
was placed in the Queen’s Vase as well as finishing third in both the
English and the Irish St Legers in 2018 and 2019 respectively. His
greenness was apparent when he finished third at Newmarket on his
debut, but he bettered that form when making all in a Leopardstown
maiden next time and it’s a measure of his regard in the O’Brien camp
that he was pitched straight into Group One company at Saint-Cloud
(1m2f) on his final start. Although he had the run of the race that
day, he still looked green under pressure and, although he plugged
on for fifth place, it’s debatable whether the very testing conditions
were in his favour at that stage of his development. The Guineas will
probably be too much of a speed test for him and he’ll be of much
more interest when he goes over 1m4f and beyond. He makes plenty
of appeal for those who would like a dabble in the ante-post markets
at 33/1 for the English St Leger. AIDAN O’BRIEN
BRUNCH
4 b g Harbour Watch - Granola (Makfi)
Michael Dods is best known for his exploits with sprinters, but
he’s also a very capable trainer with horses over the whole range

                                                                            9

100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021

of distances and his Brunch, who developed into a smart sort in a
relatively short space of time over 7f and 1m last year, looks the
sort who can take his form to a higher level in 2021. Although
his first two wins came on Tapeta, it quickly became apparent
during the latest season that he was even better on turf with two
handicap wins at York (both on a sound surface). He stepped up
on those efforts from a form perspective, despite a narrow defeat,
at Ayr and when dropped to 7f in Listed company (soft) at Redcar
on his penultimate start. He wasn’t at his best on his final start at
Newmarket, where he’d either had enough for the year or the heavy
ground was against him (or a combination of both). A winter break
should have done him good and a race like the Lincoln at Doncaster
looks an ideal starting point. MICHAEL DODS
CARTOUCHE (IRE)
3 b f Galileo - Awesome Maria (Maria’s Mon)
A big strapping filly, it took this daughter of Galileo a couple of runs
to adapt to racing but everything clicked into place on her third
and final outing of 2020 and she’s one to look forward to as she
gains further experience. Her first start came in a 7f fillies’ maiden
at Dundalk in August but she looked to be hating every second
of it, with Wayne Lordan earning his riding fee the hard way as
he was pushing and shoving his mount throughout the contest.
Despite being beaten by seven and a half lengths, she nevertheless
showed a glimmer of ability, according to the Raceform racereader.
A month later she ran a similar race at Gowran Park, missing the
break before being rowed along early and then eased down in the
closing stages having failed to make any impression on the leaders.
Her third start over 7f at Fairyhouse in October was a completely
different story, however. Soon prominent, she led over 2f out and
was ridden clear over 1f out to eventually scoot away by 14 lengths,
clearly appreciating the soft to heavy ground. It may not have been
the strongest event, but any horse that wins by that far has to have
a fair amount of ability and it will be fascinating to see how high a
rank she can take at three. She’s entered in the Irish Oaks and she is
likely to take in a trial in the spring. AIDAN O’BRIEN
CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD (IRE)
5 b g Slade Power - Bound Copy (Street Cry)
This one-time Irish Guineas entry had been disappointing over
7f/1m as a three-year-old in 2019, but he found his niche as a
sprinter last term, with two wins from six runs after the resumption
of racing in June, all over 6f, as well as a fine fifth place in the

10

100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021

Stewards’ Cup on his penultimate outing. His only subsequent start
over the same C&D was a write-off as he reared as the stalls opened
and he lost all chance, but he now begins the new season on a mark
of 95 with the promise of a bit more improvement to come. He
ideally needs a fast pace to show his best and all the big sprints will
no doubt be on the agenda as they will almost certainly be run to
suit. He is set to run at the Dubai Carnival this spring but he seems
to act on any ground and he clearly stands a lot of racing so he could
also have a productive summer over here. It would be no surprise
were he to bag a big prize this season. MICK CHANNON
CHARLIE FELLOWES (IRE)
3 b g Swiss Spirit - Filatelia (Intikhab)
Trainers Charlie Fellowes and George Scott decided to promote
their Off The Bridle podcast in 2020 by running two horses in those
colours, with Charlie Fellowes trained by George Scott and George
Scott trained by Charlie Fellowes. The equine George Scott became
a bit disappointing if truth be told, but Charlie Fellowes has been
a revelation, winning his final three starts of 2020 by an aggregate
of 18 and a quarter lengths, which all came after cheekpieces were
fitted. Up 3lb for the latest of his wins, Charlie Fellowes ran off a
mark of 92 at Lingfield in mid-February, where he was narrowly
denied in a bobbing finish by the progressive Twilight Heir. That
was not a bad run at all and the AW Championships on Good Friday
may still be on the agenda for him. He’s a straightforward type who
likes to front-run and it’s unlikely he has reached his peak just yet,
so he remains of interest. GEORGE SCOTT
CHINDIT (IRE)
3 b c Wootton Bassett - Always A Dream (Oasis Dream)
It is too early to write off this son of Wootton Bassett after his
disappointing ninth place in the Dewhurst Stakes in October.
He was shuffled back in the run, hung right throughout and
simply didn’t appear to handle the soft ground, having previously
only raced on good ground or faster. His three runs before the
Dewhurst were full of promise – firstly at Doncaster, where
he won his maiden in July, then in a Listed event (formerly
known as the Winkfield Stakes) over 7f at Ascot, which he won
with the minimum of fuss from three subsequent winners, and
finally in the Group Two Champagne Stakes back at Doncaster
in September, where he was always doing enough to see off
Albasheer. He may be kept away from soft ground after what
happened at Newmarket but, if we have a dry spring, he would

                                                                             11

100 Winners: Horses to Follow – Flat 2021

still be interesting for the 2,000 Guineas, for which he is a general
20/1 chance. It seems certain that he will stick to trips of around
a mile and may prove a force in all the top races over that distance
throughout the summer. RICHARD HANNON
COLTRANE (IRE)
4 b c Mastercraftsman - Promise Me (Montjeu)
Andrew Balding has managed a century of winners in four of
the last five calendar years and the bookies won’t be offering
generous odds that he gets to three figures in 2021. He has an
enviable blend of quantity and quality in the yard and he has
shown himself adept at handling progressive types. He has
certainty got one of those in Coltrane, who could end up being
smart if he carries on his improvement from last summer.
Following comfortable wins at Chepstow (in a maiden) and
Newmarket (on his handicap debut), the colt turned in his best
effort when beating a stack of previous winners in a competitive
renewal of the Melrose Stakes (1m6f) at York’s Ebor fixture.
Although he suffered his only defeat on turf in the Cesarewitch
when last seen in October, his chance was compromised by the
widest draw (34) and, in all probability, he didn’t really see out
the 2m2f trip on soft ground at that stage of his career. Granted
further progress, one could easily see him developing into an
Ebor sort. ANDREW BALDING
CROSSFORD (IRE)
3 b c Dawn Approach - Stylish One (Invincible Spirit)
In ten years as a licensed trainer, Charles Hills has had in excess
of 250 winners, who have earned just over £5m in win and place
prize money on the domestic front. Although Crossford has only
contributed a relatively modest £6,843 to that total by way of a
narrow AW success and a couple of placed efforts on turf, he’s
shown enough to suggest he’s a horse to keep onside in handicaps
this season. He first showed he had ability, despite a sluggish
start in a race that didn’t really suit those attempting to come
from behind, on debut at Doncaster in September and he backed
up that effort when looking more professional in a Newmarket
maiden next time. His final effort resulted in a narrow victory at
Newcastle, but that form was franked several times and, given
his physical presence, he looks likely to improve again as a three-
year-old, especially when he goes beyond 7f. He should have no
problem with 1m2f in due course and an official handicap mark of
84 should also prove manageable. CHARLES HILLS

12