Matt Chapman picks out his stars of the season so far and looks at what’s in store for the rest of their campaigns
WHAT a host of stars we have brought you on ITV Racing already this season.
And that’s not just the presenting team.
I have the rare privilege of hosting the Opening Show on ITV4 at 9.30am today — it would be rather cool if you tuned in.
I’ve also had the privilege of watching some real class acts strut their stuff on the racecourse this year — and there are plenty more who might still blow us all away before the season is through.
Let’s start with Alpha Centauri. Trained by Jessica Harrington, Alpha Centauri started the campaign finishing tenth of 13 in a Guineas trial at Leopardstown.
That was on heavy ground, though, and since the sun decided to shine she has shone herself, with a hat-trick of Group 1s in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation and Falmouth Stakes.
Harrington’s star has won her last two races by six lengths and four and a half lengths and she’s now expected to head to France for the Jacques le Marois and then America for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
While Alpha Centauri has blasted to the top of miling scene, Stradivarius has done the same in the staying division.
Placed last season in the St Leger, Stradivarius was awesome on his comeback in the Yorkshire Cup and then battled tenaciously to land the Gold Cup at Ascot.
He is on the path to a £1m marathon-race bonus if he can take the Goodwood Cup on July 31 and the Lonsdale Cup at York on August 24.
Trained by John Gosden, Stradivarius is clearly outstanding and could be around for many years to come, mixing speed and stamina.
An Arc tilt might not be beyond the realms of possibility.
Some might be surprised by my next inclusion, but I still think Saxon Warrior is a key horse for the season ahead.
Since being a brilliant winner of the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, Aidan O’Brien’s runner has been beaten in the Derby, Irish Derby and Eclipse.
MEET THE STARS Here's all you need to know about this year's 32Red Newmarket Open Weekend
Many believe his form has plateaued. I am not one of them.
Saxon Warrior was not at his best over a mile and a half and then was knackered in the Eclipse after running in the Irish Derby seven days earlier.
If I am right, there’s still a chance Saxon Warrior can do serious damage later in the campaign.
While talking about Saxon Warrior, I have to give a mention to stable companion U S Navy Flag.
This is a super-cool little horse. He has already run 16 times, his victories including the Middle Park, Dewhurst and July Cup.
In between all that he has finished second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and run on dirt in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
O’Brien has done amazing things with this blinkered son of War Front.
The other three-year-old I can’t wait to see runs at The Curragh on Saturday in the shape of Sea Of Class.
Trained by William Haggas, the daughter of Sea The Stars has promised much in two Listed wins.
She takes on Ribblesdale hero Magic Wand and Oaks winner Forever Together in a cracking renewal.
Sir Michael Stoute holds the key to the older horses with Crystal Ocean and Poet’s Word going head-to-head in the King George at Ascot next Saturday.
Both are cliche Stoute improvers, with the former landing the Hardwicke and Poet’s Word beating Cracksman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Fair play to Stoute for revealing to me on ITV Racing last Saturday both would be targeted at the Ascot midsummer showpiece.
Cracksman has lost the plot since landing the Prix Ganay, although it says much we think he has underperformed even though he took the Coronation Cup and was runner-up at Ascot.
And then there’s the fabulous Enable, last year’s King George victor who went on to land the Arc.
