Ten Champions Series stars to follow in 2015

Free Eagle winning in Ireland. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Got that tingle of excitement for the new Flat season? The start of the 2015 QIPCO British Champions Series is almost upon us.

With a new campaign comes new horses to keep an eye out for. Here are a few that we think you should keep on side in 2015.

Due Diligence

4yo colt trained by Aidan O’Brien

The vibes about this talented speedster progressing into a sprinting force for Ballydoyle this season are strong.

Winning twice before heading to Royal Ascot, including the Listed Lacken Stakes at Naas, the son of War Front was second to Series star Slade Power in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, with an eye-catching run under jockey Ryan Moore.

If Due Diligence is able to recover fully from a pelvic injury he sustained after the Royal meeting, he has every chance of progressing into a top-class sprinter.

The Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Darley July Cup, Haydock Sprint Cup and the newly upgraded Group 1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes could all come into the reckoning this year.

Eagle Top

4yo colt trained by John Gosden

A winner at Royal Ascot last season, Eagle Top has some intriguing form lines that give him claim to potential stardom in the 2015 QIPCO British Champions Series.

Victor of the King Edward VII Stakes at the Royal meeting, John Gosden’s three-year-old defeated subsequent Australian Cox Plate winner Adelaide comfortably by three and a quarter lengths.

A commendable fourth next time out in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes afterwards saw Eagle Top trail the mesmerising Taghrooda at Ascot.

However, after only four runs, this season is expected to be the year he demonstrates his true capabilities. The middle distance contests in the Series will undoubtedly be his main targets.

Elm Park

3yo colt trained by Andrew Balding

The hugely convincing Racing Post Trophy winner could well be the gift that keeps on giving for Qatar Racing in 2015.

Andrew Balding’s star will relish the expected step up in trip this season, which is expected to see the three-year-old take in the Investec Derby in June.

Connections are insistent that the talented colt has enough speed to be competitive over a mile, meaning that Elm Park could start off in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. British Classic glory awaits – possibly.

Found

3yo filly trained by Aidan O’Brien

The phenomenon that is Aidan O’Brien and his Ballydoyle operation have a very strong selection of fillies and mares this year, headed by the lead British Classic hope, Found.

Third to Cursory Glance in the Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland, the daughter of Galileo put in a magnificent performance to win the Prix Marcel Boussac in France at the end of last year, justifiably sending her to the top of the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Investec Oaks ante post markets.

If Found continues to progress, she could be a cut above the rest this season.

Free Eagle

4yo colt trained by Dermot Weld

Probably the most exciting colt to return in 2015, Free Eagle could become a Series great this campaign. Only able to make two starts in his Classic year, what Dermot Weld’s stable star did manage to show left us all purring at what lies ahead this season.

A runaway romp in a Group 2 at Leopardstown was followed by a creditable run in the QIPCO Champion Stakes to finish third behind Noble Mission and Al Kazeem on QIPCO British Champions Day.

With only four runs under his belt, the world is his oyster this year. The big middle distance races throughout the Series look his for the taking – if he is as good as he is thought to be.

We really think he could be.

Forgotten Rules

5yo horse trained by Dermot Weld

It takes some horse after two runs to come to QIPCO British Champions Day and repel your rivals in a competitive QIPCO British Champions Series Long Distance Cup. Nonetheless, Forgotten Rules did exactly that.

Although it seems the Dermot Weld-trained colt prefers softer ground, the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot has been nominated as his main aim. The Long Distance division of the Series will be at his mercy if he can perform on faster ground this season.

Regardless of whether he will cope with summer conditions, it is highly likely that we will see Forgotten Rules on Champions Day bidding to retain his title.

Giovanni Canaletto

3yo colt trained by Aidan O’Brien

All eyes are on John F Kennedy for this year’s Investec Derby, but is this the Ballydoyle inmate going under the radar?

Named after an Italian painter, the son of Galileo was a mightily impressive winner of a maiden at Leopardstown in October after finishing third on his debut.

Although it is difficult to see why a maiden winner is 20/1 for the Investec Derby, his pedigree suggests he could emerge into a potential middle distance star. A full-brother to 2013 Investec Derby winner Ruler of The World and a half-brother to the hugely successful Duke of Marmalade, it is said that Giovanni Canaletto is a ‘bigger, rangier’ horse than his siblings.

The Investec Derby is likely to be his main aim, but he will partake in the Derby Trial route beforehand to see whether he is up to the task.

Gleneagles

3yo colt trained by Aidan O’Brien

Appropriately named after the Ryder Cup victory last September, Gleneagles has the name to fit his talent.

Subject to a sustained gamble over the last few weeks, the signs from Ballydoyle suggest he is the best three-year-old that Aidan O’Brien will go to war with this season.

An impressive juvenile performer on the track last year, winning the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, Gleneagles was unfortunate to be disqualified in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for interference after coasting to victory in France.

He is a full-sister to Irish 1000 Guineas winner Marvellous.

Muthmir

5yo horse trained by William Haggas

The Group horses always come to the fore in the big handicaps, as was the case with Muthmir last year on a couple of occasions.

Eye-catching wins in the Skybet Dash at York and the Ladbrokes Portland Handicap at Doncaster left a big impression to suggest that William Haggas’ stable star could be a big player in the Series’ sprint division this season over five furlongs.

However, it will be interesting to see whether he can serve it up to Sole Power, in a division that he has dominated over the last two Series’.

Tiggy Wiggy

3yo filly trained by Richard Hannon

The brilliantly-named Tiggy Wiggy could make history in 2015.

Narrowly beaten in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, Richard Hannon’s three-year-old progressed to stardom throughout the remainder of the campaign. A superb winner of the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury, Tiggy Wigy confirmed her class by going on to win the Group 2 Lowther Stakes and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes.

A very talented sprinter last season, Richard Hannon’s star is a tailor-made candidate to win the inaugural Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot this season.