Five unraced from Clarehaven (19th November 2022)

As the sun set’s on the 2022 flat season, it’s a good time to reflect on the depth of the John and Thady Gosden juveniles. Whilst Aidan O’Brien’s youngsters have been shown to be an exceptionally talented group, I suspect the Gosden’s will be happy with what they have at their disposal for the 2023 season. 

Commissioning won the Group 1 Fillies Mile and is unbeaten. Epictetus and Arrest both were runner up in Group 1’s in October and have pedigree’s to strongly suggest they can progress at three. Coppice, Mostabshir, Inner Space, Intinso and Soul Sister are all one from one after impressive debut displays. 

Despite all that, I believe there are at least 80 unraced juveniles housed at Clarehaven, and whilst many of them won’t run at two, a few will be out between now and February. Thirty three of that group are by four of the best stallions in the World – Frankel, Kingman, Sea The Stars and Dubawi. 

So I have selected five to look out fo r over the next twelve months. 

CHALICE (8 th foal) (Sir Anthony Oppenheimer) [Sea The Stars] 13/4/20 b f This filly is a three part half - sister to Golden Horn (Cape Cross) and two other black type performers from seven foals. She was very well thought of b ut grew and went weak in late summer and was sent back to the owners stud to develop and strengthen over the winter. 

GOVERNOR OF INDIA (2 nd foal) (Lady Bamford) [Dubawi] 19/3/20 b c Her dam, Star Of Seville won the Prix De Diane in 2015 when trained by John and knowledge of the family is an advantage. Her first foal has done very little but that is not unexpected given that the initial foals can tend to be smaller and therefore weaker than subsequent siblings. He is well thought of and will want 10 - 12f as a 3yo. 

HOWEITAT (7 th foal) (White Birch Farm SC) [Dubawi] 19/4/20 b c Although he only came to Clarehaven in September, he has made a good impression in the short time he has been in Newmarket. This homebred colt is a full brother to Francesco Clement e who John and Thady also train, and Francesco is three from three and looks a highly exciting prospect for 2023 as a 4yo. Francesco made his debut as a 3yo in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket’s first meeting of the season and that is clearly a possible targe t for Howeitat. 

LION’S PRIDE (8 th foal) (Sir Anthony) [Roaring Lion] 9/4/20 b/gr c John trained the dam (Crimson Ribbon, foaled 2006), to a 1 - 1 - 6 RPR 90 career, with all six of her runs coming as a 3yo. Two of the three have earnt black type and had RPR’ s 102+ whilst another is an exciting prospect for 2023, Courage Mon Ami, is his Frankel half - brother. Trained at Clarehaven, he is two from two and he was unraced as a juvenile. John and Thady have both told me that the Roaring Lion’s need time and that th ey are all about 2023. This colt is well thought of. 

ZIRYAB (7 th foal) (Juddmonte) [Kingman] 27/1/20 b c John was the underbidder at 500,000 Gns at Book 2 at the Tattersalls sale in 2019 and Juddmonte’s final bid of 525,000 won the day. John clearly likes him, and given he trained the full brother, King Leonidas, I was delighted when Juddmonte sent this colt to Clarehaven. He is well thought of by many at the yard.

Thanks to David Piddock for kindly forwarding his selections. Much appreciated.