Super dozen can set the standard

13 April 2012

The 2001 Flat season has a hard act to follow when Doncaster hosts its opening turf manoeuvres today.

Yet inexplicably, the world's official handicappers were unexcited by what to all other eyes made 2000 a vintage year for the sport.

They must have missed Dubai Millennium's awesome Dubai World Cup and Prince Of Wales's Stakes victories. They surely forgot Sinndar became the first horse to win the Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Montjeu's King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes stroll evidently didn't register.

Five successive Group One wins and a brave second on his dirt debut in the Breeders' Cup Classic for Giant's Causeway failed to rouse them. Scintillating acceleration from King's Best in the 2,000 Guineas, Kalanisi grabbing the Breeders' Cup Turf, Observatory, Petrushka, the promise of Nayef - all this is apparently commonplace.

Don't you believe it. 2001 has its work cut out to match such brilliance and drama. But there are seeds of hope.

Kalanisi and Petrushka remain in training with Sir Michael Stoute, who also has an enviable band of three-year-olds. If retaining his championship title, it would be his seventh in total.

But, since moving to Robert Sangster's Manton complex while maintaining links with the Maktoum family, John Gosden has emerged as a genuine title contender. A raft of Classic entries suggests great strength in depth. He also houses top miler Observatory and smart Valentino.

Last season was unusually quiet for Saeed bin Suroor and Henry Cecil. They will expect better. Handlers keen to carry on where they left off last year include Irishman John Oxx, who trained Sinndar, and Amanda Perrett, who stepped out of the shadow of father Guy Harwood.

Deprived in part last term of the talents of past champions Frankie Dettori, due to his plane crash, and Kieren Fallon, after a fall at Royal Ascot, we relished Kevin Darley's first jockeys' title. He will find following up a much sterner test.

Crystal Music

(3-y-o filly, trainer: John Gosden).

Duke of Modena

(4-y-o gelding, trainer: Toby Balding).

Frenchman's Bay

(3-y-o colt, trainer: Roger Charlton).

Kier Park

(4-y-o colt, trainer: Michael Jarvis).

Judicious

(4-y-o colt, trainer: Geoff Wragg).

Nayef

(3-y-o colt, trainer: Marcus Tregoning).

Observatory

(4-y-o colt, trainer: John Gosden).

Rudik

(4-y-o gelding, trainer: David Nicholls).

Savoire Vivre

(4-y-o colt, trainer: Saeed bin Suroor).

Theatre Script

(3-y-o colt, trainer: John Gosden).

Water Jump

(4-y-o colt, trainer: John Dunlop).

Wellbeing

(4-y-o colt, trainer: Henry Cecil).

MORE ABOUT

Breeders' Cup

Derby

Doncaster

Horse Racing And Harness Racing

Horses

Newmarket Racecourses