Globeform editor Geir Stabell lists ten European horses to keep a close eye on for 2025
COOL HOOF LUKE Andrew Balding (trainer)
2c Advertise - Dutch Monument
It puzzles me that this colt is 50-1 for the 2,000 Guineas. Perhaps he is a sprinter – but then 20-1 for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot also looks too big. Not a typical juvenile, he improved markedly when winning the Gimcrack Stakes at York, coming from off the pace for a game win, beating Shadow Of Light, who won two G1 events subsequently, next-out G3 winner Symbol Of Strength, and Big Mojo, who was exiting a G3 win. Strong form? I'd say so – and there's probably better still to come.
DIEGO VELAZQUEZ Aidan O’Brien
3c Frankel - Sweepstake
Diego Velazquez improved dramatically when dropped in distance, winning impressively twice at Leopardstown. Taking the nine-furlong G3 Meld Stakes and the one-mile G2 Solonoway Stakes (in a good time), he outclassed runners who went on to frank the form by beating other rivals who rubber-stamped the form even more subsequently. Son of Frankel will probably develop into an exciting horse at four, when he is likely to be aimed at races like the Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes and other top mile events.
FRIENDLY SOUL John & Thady Gosden
3f Kingman - In Clover
This filly became high-class as she matured, and her end-of-season exploits suggested that there will be better still to come. Looked an Oaks prospect when hacking up at Newmarket on her reappearance but, after she had beaten herself fair and square by racing erratically in the Musidora, the Classics went without her. Given a break, she came back to win three races in the second half of the season, most notably the G1 Prix de l'Opera. She acts on any ground and should find plenty of opportunities.
IDES OF MARCH Aidan O’Brien
2c Wootton Bassett - Nickname
Badly drawn and slow from the gates, Ides Of March ran better than the result suggests in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, where he was beaten four lengths in seventh. He had previously won the Round Tower Stakes in the manner of a potential star, cruising home by 3¼ lengths in this G3 event, in which he toyed with runner-up Usdi Atoni (closer to Big Mojo when fifth in the Molecomb). Potential to become a top sprinter.
MILITARY ACADEMY John & Thady Gosden
3c Fastnet Rock - Sovereign Parade
A half-brother to high-class juvenile Commissioning, this middle-distance prospect was not as precocious. A late foal, he was unraced at two, but he won three of his for races at three, getting better with every run. After being beaten by the smart hurdler Burdett Road in Listed company at Newmarket, he improved to win at the same level on the all-weather at Kempton, where he travelled sweetly throughout and won with authority from Aimeric (previously Listed-placed at Windsor). Should progress again and make mark in Group-race company.
NIGHT RAIDER Karl Burke
3c Dark Angel - Dorraar
Dropped back in trip to six furlongs, Night Raider beat Equilateral in an all-weather conditions event at Kempton before delivering a smart performances at Newcastle in mid-November, when he improved again to trounce Annaf in the Golden Rose Stakes. Annaf, officially rated 114 at his best in 2024, had no chance as Night Raider made all to take the race by 3 ¾ lengths. That piece of form makes Night Raider look like a G1-calibre horse and he is being aimed at lucrative events at the Dubai Carnival.
SEACRUISER Ralph Beckett
2c Sea The Stars - Crimean Queen
Having run fifth in what was a very productive maiden at Goodwood on debut, this colt won another strong maiden over a mile at Newmarket in September. Making all, he came under pressure from Present Times through the final furlong but was always holding the upper hand and won well. The runner-up has since won a novice stakes, while the third broke his maiden by over seven lengths next time out. From a good middle-distance family, Seacruiser has been entered for the Irish Derby.
WHITE BIRCH John Joseph Murphy
4c Ulysses - Diagnostic
White Birch, whose Arc bid was foiled by a minor injury, should not be forgotten. He was seriously good in the spring, when he trounced Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, having won a pair of early-season G3s. Race-fitness probably told as he reversed the precious season’s form Derby form with Auguste Rodin but White Birch won with such ease; he was vastly improved at four. His campaign is going to be a case of working backwards from the Arc.
ZARIGANA Francis-Henri Graffard
2f Siyouni - Zarkamiya
Beaten a nose when odds-on for the Prix Marcel Boussac – and that by a longshot stable companion – Zarigana ended her first season on a 'moderate low' but make no mistake: this is a seriously good filly. Lack of experience and testing ground contributed to a reverse that should probably not have happened, and her smooth win in the G3 Prix d'Aumale on her previous outing was one of the most impressive juvenile performances in France this year. Out of a Listed-winning daughter of the mighty Zarkava, she is bred to go right to the top.
ZEKRET Andre Fabre
2c Zarak - Anjella
This once-raced Al Shaqab colt could be a dark horse for the French Classics. Making his debut in a newcomers' event over 1600 metres (a mile) on heavy ground at Deauville in October, he was a smooth one-length winner despite not being particularly fond of the ground conditions. Runner-up Aminaco loved the ground but was always held by Zerkel, who won under a hand ride. He didn't beat much, but he looked smart as the first two drew right away from the rest.
• Geir Stabell is the editor of globeform.com
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires