The Judge: Ten to Follow for the Flat (Part 1)

In this blog The Judge marks your card for the flat season with ten horses who should make headlines and pay their way in 2012.

Saddler’s Rock (IRE) 4-y-o colt   Trainer: John M Oxx

A stayer with a massive future judged on his startling progression last season which culminated in a very impressive victory in the Doncaster Cup when having only his sixth career outing. The Sadler’s Wells colt took a while to warm to his task at Doncaster, but the style in which he breezed past the high-class Opinion Poll to win going away, marked him down as a serious player for the Ascot Gold Cup and other top staying races this season.

Abtaal (USA)  3-y-o colt   Trainer: J-C Rouget

Trained in France, this colt first came to my attention on his last outing as a juvenile when he slammed subsequent Group One winner, French Fifteen, by 3 lengths at Saint-Cloud. Admittedly he was allowed to set a sedate pace but once his rider asked for maximum effort, soon after two furlongs from home, he settled matters in an instant with a scintillating change of pace. He could well head to Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas and I would be surprised if this talented individual isn’t competitive at the highest level.

The Fugue  3-y-o filly   Trainer: John Gosden

Overcame greenness and a sluggish start to win her only start in a backend Newmarket maiden, this athletic filly looked sure to improve greatly for the experience and it is to her credit that she managed to win at the first time of asking. She travelled beautifully through the middle part of the race and quickened up nicely displaying an abundance of natural speed that should stand her in good stead if taking up her 1000 Guineas engagement. Unsurprisingly, given her dam was runner up in a Ribblesdale Stakes, she also holds an Oaks entry and whichever route her trainer decides to take, I am sure she will make her presence felt.

Fiorente  4-y-o colt   Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute

Hasn’t been the easiest to train, as the fact that he has only raced four times in his career would testify, but Fiorente is just the type of horse that his trainer excels with. His run at Royal Ascot when runner-up to Nathaniel, who then went on to win the King George, was a significant step forward on only his third start and it was then disappointing that he couldn’t justify favouritism in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. I am convinced the best is yet to come with Fiorente and this big, strong individual will surely be aimed at the top middle distance events where I expect him to become a significant player.

Akeed Mofeed  3-y-o colt   Trainer: John M Oxx

This well related colt was off the mark at the second time of asking when taking a Leopardstown maiden in style. Intriguingly, he was then asked to tackle Group 2 company in the Beresford Stakes, a race in which Sea The Stars ran in as a juvenile, but he had to settle for second behind the promising David Livingston. He was caught a bit flat-footed when the pace quickened early in the straight but was eating into the winner’s  advantage close home giving the strong impression that middle distances this year will bring significant improvement. The Derby appears to be on the agenda for Akeed Mofeed in a bid to add to Oxx’s good record in the race.