Ray Thomas has identified Australian racings top 10 rising stars for 2023
After ticking off his Top 10 Australian racehorses Ray Thomas now turns his attention to what the future stars of 2023 will look like.
The Daily Telegraph’s racing editor Ray Thomas identifies the emerging racehorses set to make their mark in 2023.
CHECK OUT RAY THOMAS’S TOP 10 AUSTRALIAN RACEHORSES
1 – EL BODEGON (Chris Waller)
El Bodegon was still a three-year-old by northern hemisphere time when he made his Australian debut and finished a half length third to Anamoe in the Cox Plate. It was a mighty run from the Chris Waller stable recruit who did not have the best of luck in running, either. El Bodegon was a Group 1 winner in France as a two-year-old and twice Group 1 placed there last year before his Cox Plate effort. He’s being aimed at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in autumn but has the class and ability to be competitive in anything he contests.
2 – MAZU (Peter and Paul Snowden)
It could be argued that Mazu has already made it but I’m convinced the best is yet to come from the Team Snowden-trained sprinter. Mazu won the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 last season and although he was winless during spring, he ran second to the outstanding Lost And Running in the Premiere Stakes, a close third in Giga Kick’s The Everest and then beat all but Private Eye in the Nature Strip Stakes. This four-year-old gelding is by Maurice and has always promised to improve with age and maturity. There could be a changing of the guard at the top of the nation’s sprinting ranks this year and Mazu is leading the charge.
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3 – I WISH I WIN (Peter Moody)
I Wish I Win was a Group 1 placegetter in New Zealand before joining the Peter Moody stable last spring where he went to a new level. In four starts for Moody, I Wish I Win won three times including his brilliant effort in the Golden Eagle. He’s likely to be set for the All-Star Mile but races like the Doncaster Mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes are also on the radar.
CHECK OUT RAY THOMAS’S TOP 10 AUSTRALIAN RACEHORSES
4 – JACQUINOT (Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr)
There is some real talent in the three-year-old ranks this season including Jacquinot. He was very impressive running down Aft Cabin in the McNeil Stakes then his finishing surge to beat In Secret in the Golden Rose had to be seen to be believed. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained colt raced without luck in The Everest and wasn’t at home in the wet conditions in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. He’s an exciting young sprinter.
5 – I AM ME (Ciaron Maher and David Eustace)
I Am Me has been the sprinting find of the Sydney summer. She has reeled off four brilliant wins culminating in her track record effort in the Listed Canterbury Sprint. I Am Me also won over the Randwick 1200m in a stunning 1m 7.77s, one of the fastest times ever recorded over that famous course and distance. She has the ability to reel off sizzling sectionals and is a Group 1 winner in waiting.
CHECK OUT RAY THOMAS’S TOP 10 AUSTRALIAN RACEHORSES
6 – GOLDEN MILE (James Cummings)
Golden Mile might not have received the kudos he deserved after an outstanding spring three-year-old campaign that yielded three feature race wins including the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Callander-Presnell at 1600m. He’s a big, strong colt but still inexperienced so expect him to improve further in autumn. Races like the Randwick Guineas and Doncaster Mile are likely targets.
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7 – ZOUGOTCHA (Chris Waller)
How good is the Zougotcha form! She won her three starts during spring, the Silver Shadow Stakes and Tea Rose Stakes at Group 2 level, then took out the Group 1 Flight Stakes comfortably. Remarkably, the runner-up in each of those fillies races trained on to win at Group 1 level – In Secret (Coolmore Stud Stakes), Madame Pommery (Thousand Guineas) and She’s Extreme (VRC Oaks) respectively. Zougotcha is a lightly-raced filly blessed with brilliant acceleration.
8 – SHE’S EXTREME (Anthony Cummings)
They don’t come much tougher than She’s Extreme. She won the Champagne Stakes last season then returned in spring to place twice at Group 1 level in the Flight Stakes and Spring Champion Stakes before her dominant and deserved Group 1 VRC Oaks success. Extremely versatile filly who is competitive over a wide distance range and all track surfaces.
CHECK OUT RAY THOMAS’S TOP 10 AUSTRALIAN RACEHORSES
9 – SHEEZA BELTER (Peter and Paul Snowden)
Sheeza Belter is the “sleeper” among a stellar crop of three-year-old fillies. She was a Group 1 winner of the JJ Atkins last season but only had a quiet spring, restricted to just two starts including her win against older mares in the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly has loads of ability and a massive finishing surge.
10 – AFT CABIN (James Cummings)
Aft Cabin and Golden Mile are both sons of Astern trained by Godolphin’s James Cummings. Golden Mile won the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas after early favourite Aft Cabin was forced out of the race due to a bleeding attack. Aft Cabin had won the Guineas Prelude at his previous start by a widening margin, his second win (and two seconds) from an impressive four-start debut preparation. Highly promising colt with dazzling speed.
Originally published as Ray Thomas has identified Australian racings top 10 rising stars for 2023
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