Shadow Of Light named Europe’s champion two-year-old with Dewhurst winner to go 'straight to the 2,000 Guineas' next

Charlie Appleby said he is “not lacking in confidence” about stepping Shadow Of Light up in trip for the Betfred 2,000 Guineas after the Middle Park and Dewhurst Stakes winner was confirmed as Europe’s champion two-year-old for 2024.

Shadow Of Light was rated an “average” champion juvenile by the British and Irish handicappers after finishing the year with a rating of 120, one pound higher than the filly Lake Victoria, who was the highest-rated two-year-old from Ireland last year. Only twice has the champion European two-year-old been rated lower than Shadow Of Light, in 2011 and 2014.

Shadow Of Light was revealed as the champion at the European two-year-old classifications on Tuesday, and became Appleby’s third leading juvenile after Pinatubo in 2019 and Native Trail in 2021.

Pinatubo and Native Trail went on to contest the 2,000 Guineas as three-year-olds, and Appleby intends to follow the same path with Shadow Of Light.

Speaking at a press event on Tuesday, Appleby said: “We are going to ask the question [about whether he stays], most definitely. We’ll go straight to the Guineas as I don’t want to be testing him over a mile beforehand. Timing-wise it makes sense to go straight to the Guineas with him.

“On the evidence of what we have seen and the way he relaxes he gives himself the best chance of seeing out the mile. I’m very pleased with how he’s done. He was a strong, close-coupled two-year-old but we’re pleased with how he’s lengthened and progressed physically from last year. It’s very exciting for us to have a horse like him.

“I see no reason why he won’t stretch out. We are not lacking in confidence about the trip, but until you try you have that grey area.”

Appleby will also aim his leading two-year-old filly at Newmarket with Desert Flower on track to contest the Betfred 1,000 Guineas.

The unbeaten filly finished last year rated 117, two pounds behind champion two-year-old filly Lake Victoria, and Appleby said: "Desert Flower is already a winner of a mile and I imagine we’ll go straight for the Guineas. She’s done very well for the winter and we’ve been very pleased with her.

"Will she be an Oaks filly? I don’t know if she’ll stretch out that far. We’ll stick with where we are for the near future, although plans always seem to change after that first weekend in May."

Ruling Court (left): being targeted at the UAE 2,000 Guineas before a Classic campaign in EuropeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Appleby could also be represented in the opening Classics of the season by Ruling Court and Verse Of Love, who are being aimed at the UAE 2,000 Guineas and UAE 1,000 Guineas respectively before returning to Britain.

The 1,000 Guineas has also been earmarked as the starting point for Lake Victoria, who was ranked as the best two-year-old filly to race in Europe since Lady Aurelia in 2016 and ended 2024 rated higher than the likes of her male stablemates The Lion In Winter, Expanded and Camille Pissarro.

Lake Victoria could be joined at Newmarket by Fairy Godmother, and trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “We won’t be in a rush with Lake Victoria and what she did last year was very unusual. You couldn’t believe that a two-year-old filly would do that to win three Group 1s over three different distances. You’d imagine she’s going to be a miler type and might get a mile and a quarter, but who knows.

“Fairy Godmother’s cantering at the moment and has physically done very well. She’s a very quick filly looking at her and we’d be thinking of starting her in a Guineas and seeing if she can get a mile. She’s a strong horse, she’s got loads of scope and she’s in the ‘could be anything’ category.”

Of The Lion In Winter, O’Brien added: “He’s good. He could go to the Guineas but he looks a Derby-type horse, so if he doesn’t go to the Guineas he could start in a trial.”

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