We have already seen a couple of intriguing race meetings, none more so than the Guineas trials at Newbury and Newmarket recently.
The good news is we still have all the best meetings and races still to come in the weeks and months ahead and with that in mind we take a look at five horses to keep an eye out for on your racecards over the flat season.
Wembley
The Ballydoyle trained horse made his debut as a 2-year-old in June last year having 5 runs in Ireland before crossing over the Irish sea for a final run of the 2020 season at Newmarket in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes in October.
For most of the 2020 season for Wembley it was a case of ‘always the bridesmaid and never the bride’ after the Aiden O’Brien horse finished runner up in a total of 4 races from 6. The last two races of those 6 were however in Group 1 company finishing behind Thunder Moon in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at The Curragh before playing second fiddle behind Stable mate St Mark’s Basilica at Newmarket.
Bigger things are expected from Wembley in his 3-year-old season and Wembley has an entry for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May and after his near miss second at the same course back in October, you wouldn’t bet against the Ballydoyle horse going well and he could be a good pick in the horse racing odds.
Miss Amulet
After listed success in Ireland, Miss Amulet made a real name for herself by landing the Class 1 Lowther Stakes at York with James Doyle on board. Although Miss Amulet would not be seen in the winner’s enclosure again in 2020, she did run some encouraging races; first of all, at Newmarket in the Class 1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes where 1,000 Guineas hope Alcohol Free got the better of her, beating her by half a length.
Then Miss Amulet would make her final season bow in 2020 at Keeneland in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in America, finishing third but just under three lengths off the eventual winner, Aunt Pearl.
The form is certainly solid and extremely encouraging from Miss Amulet’s 2-year-old season and with more experience and training she could be a force to be reckoned with this summer and beyond.
Snow Lantern
Snow Lantern was a relatively unexposed 3-year-old up until her win at Newbury at the weekend which was only the second run of her career. Despite low mileage, Snow Lantern has everything you’d want from a breeding perspective with the filly from Sky Lantern and the unmistakable Frankel.
After winning impressively at Newbury on 18th April, all the talk was about the 1,000 Guineas and her price was slashed from 20/1 prerace to around 7/1 post race in the 1,000 Guineas ante post. Richard Hannon has more recently confirmed however that she would be running at York in May instead of the Guineas.
Despite the disappointment that fans and punters will not be able to see her at Newmarket, she is sure to star in some top class races this season and certainly one to keep on side with after Richard Hannon classed her as a “special filly”.
Peter The Great
Despite being a newcomer, like all horses trained by John Gosden and more recently Thady Gosden, Peter The Great would have gathered up some interest before his race at Newmarket on 15th April.
Although the punters weren’t so convinced, with Peter The Great going off at 11/1 before making a mockery of that price and winning the race by 1L in the Class 3 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes.
The Gosden runner looked impressive after starting the race slowly and eventually running down his opponents from 2 furlongs out and doing enough to stay on to the 1m pole. It was an impressive debut race and this Gosden colt may be one to keep on side.
Matthew Flinders
Although it wasn’t the dream return to the track for Matthew Flinders in the Spring Cup at Newbury on 18th April. There was still plenty to like about the run in which the Ed Walker horse finished 1 ½ furlongs off the winner Nugget in the large field Class 2.
He already landed the Class 2 Sky Sport Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap at Doncaster and winning a cool £24,900 for connections in the process, so we can see he has bags of potential.
Having the winter off in preparation of his 4-year-old season could be just what Matthew Flinders needs to improve on last season and he could make it into a stakes horse.