'It was the excitement he generated that left the biggest impression this year' - counting down the top ten performances of the Flat season
From the 2,000 Guineas to Champions Day, we count down the best performances of the Flat season . . .
10 - Bradsell (Nunthorpe)
It was one of the training performances of the year for Archie Watson to bring Bradsell back to win a Group 1 from what, in most cases, would have been a career-ending injury.
But Watson and Bradsell had unfinished business in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, having finished third in the race the previous season, and the trainer had the four-year-old spot on for the blaze down the Knavesmire.
Bradsell flashed out the gates and took a lead from Ponntos before unleashing a devastating turn of foot at the two-furlong pole to put lengths between him and the field. While Believing closed the gap to three-quarters of a length at the finish, the damage was already done.
9 - Economics (Dante)
Staying at York and the brilliant Economics, who made the Dante field look like maidens as he waltzed to victory by six dazzling lengths.
Held up in rear, Economics pulled quite hard through the early parts of the race, but Tom Marquand eased his mount into contention approaching the final couple of furlongs before shooting clear of his rivals to win eased down.
It was a performance that really sparked the Flat season into life and created much discussion about whether or not he should be supplemented for the Derby. He wasn't, and he didn't reappear until August when he won a Group 2 in Deauville by two lengths. He then landed a first and much-deserved Group 1 in the Irish Champion Stakes before struggling to pick up on soft ground in the Champion Stakes.
However, despite his Group 1 exploits, it was the excitement he generated with his Dante performance that left the biggest impression this season.
8 - Bedtime Story (Chesham)
It's easy to forget just how breathtaking Bedtime Story was when bolting up in the Chesham by nine and a half lengths.
Unfortunately she has been found out in Group 1 company on her last two starts, when being too keen in her races has cost her dear.
Not many two-year-olds have produced such a spectacular display at the royal meeting and fingers crossed connections can help rekindle her spark over the winter.
7 - Shadow Of Light (Dewhurst)
Shadow Of Light won the Dewhurst by just a neck, but it was the manner in which he landed the Group 1 that was so brilliant.
The son of Lope De Vega headed into the seven-furlong contest as a suspect stayer, having shown so much speed to win the Middle Park over six furlongs at the track two weeks earlier.
However, Shadow Of Light had his stamina tested like never before as Expanded and Ancient Truth gained a few lengths on the near rail.
On soft ground, Shadow Of Light dug in deep to catch the duo and get up inside the final strides to win going away.
6 - Kyprios (Goodwood Cup)
The staying king Kyprios won all seven starts this season, and in truth had five solid contenders to feature in this list, having recorded an RPR of 120, 121 or 122 on his last five starts.
However, it was his Goodwood Cup performance that really left the impression that this was a six-year-old of the highest ability and not just as a stayer – I backed him for the Arc on the back of it and I am convinced he would have gone ever so close at Longchamp.
Kyprios oozed class as he sauntered to the lead at the two-furlong pole and powered clear of his rivals by four lengths. Three more wins in equally brilliant fashion followed to confirm Kyprios as one of the all-time staying greats.
5 - Notable Speech (2,000 Guineas)
Perhaps a surprise to some to see Notable Speech so high in the pecking order, but it should not be forgotten just what a strong race this year's 2,000 Guineas was.
Runner-up Rosallion went on to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes, while the third-placed Haatem was an impressive winner of the Jersey Stakes having just been touched off by Rosallion in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
The fourth-placed Ghostwriter was a model of consistency all season, filling the same position in the Prix du Jockey Club, finishing third in the Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte, and he was only beaten two lengths when fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes.
Inisherin was sixth and, while he has lost his way in the second half of the season, he was impressive in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, and let's not forget City Of Troy, who clearly wasn't anywhere near his best when finishing ninth, but has gone on to achieve incredible things this season.
For Notable Speech to put a field of that quality to bed by a length and a half in pretty comfortable fashion was very impressive.
4 - Charyn (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes)
There can't have been many hardier horses than Charyn over the past decade. The four-year-old's season kicked off way back in March and he has run in almost every month since, winning five of those seven starts, and if Audience and Tribalist had not got loose at the front in the Lockinge and Moulin he might well be unbeaten.
Incredibly, after being on the go for so long, Charyn saved his best performance till last in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day.
After racing relatively prominently, Silvestre de Sousa eased his mount into contention and Charyn was still hard on the bridle with just over a furlong to go.
De Sousa was perhaps caught out as Facteur Cheval drew alongside with a momentum advantage, but Charyn was brave and talented enough to pick up and run out a two-length winner.
To go from travelling so comfortably to having to dig in so deeply in the matter of seconds on soft ground is hugely difficult. Most – as we see so often – just spin in the mud in that situation, but not Charyn.
It was a remarkable performance from a remarkable horse to cap off a remarkable season.
3 - Goliath (King George VI and Elizabeth Stakes)
Unfancied at 25-1 for the famous Group 1, Goliath travelled through the race like he was the 7-4 favourite and, as the actual 7-4 favourite Auguste Rodin and Rebel's Romance went to battle on the straight for home, the French-trained outsider and Christophe Soumillon cantered all over their rivals before powering clear with effortless ease.
This was not a weak race. Rebel's Romance and Auguste Rodin have won 11 Group 1s between them – Rebel's Romance has added another since – and the runner-up was none other than Arc winner Bluestocking.
But Goliath and Soumillon, who could afford to celebrate before crossing the line, made it look like a weak race. What a shame he is a gelding and couldn't run in the Arc.
2 - Bluestocking (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe)
Bluestocking may well have suffered defeat to Goliath in the King George, but a win in the Vermeille was enough to convince connections to cough up the money to supplement the four-year-old for the Arc.
Victory never looked in doubt. Breaking well from stall three, Bluestocking settled just behind the pace-setting Los Angeles and was ridden to the lead by an inspired Rossa Ryan at the two-furlong pole.
Bluestocking powered clear of her rivals in very soft ground at the Paris track, drawing a length and quarter clear of her Vermeille rival Aventure, Los Angeles and favourite Sosie.
1 - City Of Troy (Juddmonte)
In the build-up to the 2,000 Guineas, many were claiming City Of Troy could be the best horse we have seen since Frankel.
However, City Of Troy inexplicably bombed out, leaving more of us thinking he was more likely to be the next Air Force Blue than Frankel.
A brilliant win in the Derby was followed by a less-impressive success in the Coral-Eclipse that again left City Of Troy with questions to answer going into what looked a very strong Juddmonte.
City Of Troy broke from the stalls quickly and Ryan Moore controlled the race from the front. The son of Justify powered clear of his rivals, leaving the field strung out in the manner, albeit perhaps not quite as spectacular, of Frankel.
It is the Breeders' Cup Classic next for City Of Troy, and a win would no doubt elevate him to one of the greats. Win or lose at Del Mar, he will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the Juddmonte greats.
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