Star spring horses you must keep following next campaign

SPRING racing is ending but the stars will be back in the autumn. Here are the horses you should keep following.

SPRING racing is ending but the stars of the turf will be back in the autumn. Get out your black books because here are the horses you should keep following.

Boban

From a horse with untapped potential to Australia's premier miler, Boban has been the success story of the spring. While the collective margin of his last three wins in Group 1 mile races the Epsom and Emirates, as well as the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m), is only half a length, it was the manner of those victories that stamped him a superstar in the making.

The noted backmarker copped checks in both the Epsom and Moonga Stakes but steadied to flash home and win on the line. His late surge through the field in the Flemington straight in the Emirates made it five straight wins after starting his career with three victories from 13 starts. There's the promise of more riches next year - with the Doncaster in the autumn and Cox Plate in the spring on the horizon.

News_Image_File: Jim Cassidy wins the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Zoustar at Flemington. Picture: Mark Evans

Zoustar

This exciting colt dominated Group 1 events at both the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals, producing a stunning late burst to win the Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill before his effortless two-length win down the straight in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Throw in his four-length Group 2 Roman Consul (1200m) win at Randwick, a $20 million stud deal and the prospect of continuing Australia's dominance of the Royal Ascot sprint races to increase his stud value in the northern hemisphere, Zoustar is unlikely to let punters down any time soon.

Ominously, trainer Chris Waller revealed after his Coolmore Stud Stakes win that "I haven't really wound either of them (Zoustar or Boban) fully up to win yet.

"Zoustar was specifically set for his race but we haven't really given either horse a gut-buster. It is exciting times ahead for them.''

Expect the increased prizemoney of the Group 1 $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick to appeal greatly to connections.

His ill-fated stallion Northern Meteor has produced some impressive progeny before his untimely demise, but this three-year-old looms as the best and most likely to continue the champion bloodline.

News_Image_File: Darley filly Guelph runs away with the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.

Guelph

The most exciting filly in Australia.

Darley Crown Lodge supremo Peter Snowden opted against a Cox Plate start for the Sydney superstar, despite dominant Group 1 1600m wins in the Flight Stakes at Randwick and Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in October.

While seeing the four-time Group 1 winner going around Moonee Valley with just 47kg on her back would've been exciting, Snowden sent her to the paddock with future success in mind.

"She has had four runs this preparation and is in great order, so she goes to the paddock at the top of her game, not as a tired horse," he said.

"I think in the autumn we will see the best of her."

News_Image_File: Fawkner backed up his Caulfield Cup win with a credible sixth in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Wayne Ludbey.

Fawkner

This Lloyd Williams horse went from winning three Flemington 1400m races in super-fast time last spring to the Caulfield Cup champion and sixth-placed Melbourne Cup finisher in the space of six months.

Looked an out-and-out miler after his close second to Happy Trails in last year's Emirates Stakes but made the step up to staying distances with ease.

This locally bred gelding by Reset could be the ideal horse for the $4 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick in the autumn as part of The Championships series.

News_Image_File: Hugh Bowman wins the Victoria Derby on Polanski at Flemington. Picture: Mark Evans

Polanski

The spring's fairytale horse. Trainer Robbie Laing bought Polanski for $4000 as a yearling. He's a direct descendant of the great Phar Lap. And his three wins this campaign, including the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) have taken his earnings to $1,173,565.

But the best part of the story? This colt looks a serious stayer.

The TAB have him a $35 chance for next year's Melbourne Cup, while other bookmakers have made him a $17 favourite for the race that stops a nation.

Those are some ridiculously short odds but just go back and watch Polanski's Derby win to see

Hugh Bowman had him cruising midfield the entire race and took him to the lead coming off the Flemington turn. Punters feared he had gone early and would get run down in the straight but the son of Ratki kept putting distance between him and his rivals, with the winning margin three lengths.

Trainer Robbie Laing quipped afterwards, "I suppose this is one of the big ones.''

And it's not likely to be his last.

News_Image_File: James McDonald and It's A Dundeel end Atlantic Jewel's unbeaten run in the Underwood Stakes. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

It's A Dundeel

Okay, so his six-length Cox Plate eighth placing as a favourite was disappointing, there is still plenty of reasons to like this High Chapparal four-year-old.

The Kiwi horse dominated the Sydney autumn, securing a Group 1 hat-trick in the Australian Derby (2400m) after wins in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Randwick Guineas (1600m).

He inflicted superstar Atlantic Jewel's one and only defeat in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) in September and suffered a hoof issue leading into the Cox Plate.

Trainer Murray Baker has already indicated he will aim his superstar at the Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick in the autumn, a race he finished second in to Reliable Man this year.

News_Image_File: Damien Oliver and Fiorente storm past Red Cadeaux on the way to victory in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Colleen Petch

Fiorente

Putting in a Melbourne Cup winner may seem obvious but this horse's formline is undeniable.

In five runs this spring he won two races, Group 1s no less, with his last-stride Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) effort and barnstorming Melbourne Cup (3200m) breakthrough for trainer Gai Waterhouse.

Just as impressively, Fiorente only finished more than a length behind the winner in one race, when he was first-up over 1400m in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes.

His Cox Plate third was full of merit and fast-finishing Turnbull Stakes fourth had him primed for the Cup.

Waterhouse may take him to Royal Ascot next year to chase a big race and showcase his stud appeal, and there are plenty of good staying races with his name on it in the spring if she keeps him at home.

News_Image_File: Damian Browne's catch-me-if-you-can tactics aboard Buffering pay off down the Flemington straight. Picture: Jay Town

Buffering

Destined to become racing's biggest Group 1 loser after six second-placings from 17 attempts, Buffering finally notched back-to-back wins in the Manikato Stakes and VRC Sprint.

He had legitimate excuses for some of his Group 1 defeats, namely running second to the legendary Black Caviar (four times), and coming up against champion sprinters such as Hay List and Sepoy.

But he also lost to the likes of Beaded, Mid Summer Music and Linton - who once ran in a Melbourne Cup and hardly considered a threat to a top-line sprinter over the 1400m of the Stradbroke at Eagle Farm.

Buffering never lost a race due to lack of effort. The Brisbane Bulldog is known for taking his customary frontrunning role and making every horse in the race produce their best if they're a chance of beating him.

With Zoustar the only likely current sprinter from the current crop to deny him more Group 1 glory, the Robert Heathcote-trained six-year-old could be in for a lucrative autumn campaign, with a trip to Royal Ascot also on the cards.