Climbing the ranks: six handicappers who became established Group 1 performers

With the impressive Roger Varian-trained Wokingham scorer Cape Byron bidding to make his mark at Group 1 level in the July Cup, Robbie Wilders looks at six handicap winners who developed into top-class performers . . .

Accidental Agent
Eve Johnson Houghton

It is funny how things change. Wind back the clock to 2016 and Accidental Agent was unable to exploit a mark of 78 in a Goodwood nursery when beaten a length by Procurator.

Press forward a few years and Accidental Agent is a Group 1 winner rated 116, whereas his juvenile conqueror won a Roscommon handicap off 54 earlier this week.

Eve Johnson Houghton celebrates winning the Queen Anne Stakes with Accidental AgentCredit: Caroline Norris

It was only as a three-year-old that Eve Johnson Houghton's stable star began to achieve his potential, holding the equally progressive Lord Glitters off 104 in a valuable handicap at Ascot in October 2017.

Retrospectively that was an almighty piece of form, with Accidental Agent again accounting for Lord Glitters in the Queen Anne Stakes as a four-year-old. The pair continue to dine at the top table and it was Lord Glitters who avenged that defeat this year to join his old rival as a Queen Anne winner.

Danetime
Neville Callaghan

Considering Danetime was defeated in multiple handicaps off marks in the 90s, it was a surprise to see just how much progression the then three-year-old made as the 1997 season developed.

John Magnier's sprinter found marked improvement at Newmarket's July meeting by winning a six-furlong handicap off 97 before scooping the lucrative Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood off 3lb higher.

Given Danetime's progression an engagement in the Haydock Sprint Cup was next and a good second to Royal Applause proved that connections were not tilting at windmills.

The deceased son of Danehill ended his career at four running creditably at the highest level without winning again.

Halling
Saeed bin Suroor

Failing to set the world alight in three-year-old maidens, Halling found himself entering handicap company off a lowly mark of 75 in a Ripon event.

Hindsight proved that rating to be a gift and two further victories followed off 88 and then 93 before a winter stint in Dubai at Nad Al Sheba saw Halling continue to progress out of all recognition.

Now in the care of Saeed bin Suroor, the then four-year-old registered consecutive sublime performances in achieving the notable Coral-Eclipse-Juddmonte International double.

Three further top-level successes followed in a fruitful campaign at five for arguably one of Godolphin's all-time greats.

Les Arcs
Tim Pitt

The prolific Les Arcs was anything but that at the beginning of his career. Housed by John Gosden before moving to Richard Guest, it was only when he joined Tim Pitt that Les Arcs produced his finest form.

The son of Arch found his happy place with Pitt as a six-year-old, stringing together five consecutive victories at handicap, conditions and then Listed level before his sequence was ended when second at Newmarket.

However, that did not stop the relentless Les Arcs, who crowned a stunning season by bouncing back to score in the 2006 Golden Jubilee Stakes and July Cup.

Continent
David Nicholls

On his first British start in April 2001 – following five starts in France – Continent beat just one home in a seven furlong Newmarket handicap off a mark of 97 in a display that would ultimately prove to betray his future exploits.

A 50-1 third on his next start initiated a progression that saw the son of Lake Coniston move steadily through the handicap ranks until taking his Pattern bow in the Listed Abernant Stakes 367 days after his British debut.

A second and a fifth in Royal Ascot's two Group 1 sprint races in 2002 – the King's Stand and the Golden Jubilee – represented a marked upturn in form and laid the groundwork for his half-length victory in the July Cup on his very next start.

Lochsong
Ian Balding

Few would have anticipated a mare who had suffered defeat in handicaps off marks of 72 and 80 could have Group 1 potential but the Ian Balding-trained Lochsong had that and more.

Running over seven furlongs during the early stages of her career, Lochsong crafted her niche over five furlongs and it became apparent as a five-year-old she was a top-class sprinter.

The fastest horse I've ridden at Royal Ascot: Dettori and his King's Stand heroine LochsongCredit: Smith Phil

An impressive 1993 Nunthorpe victory preceded a devastating six-length Prix de l'Abbaye romp under Frankie Dettori on heavy ground.

Lochsong appeared to save her best for Longchamp and it was her second Abbaye victory the following year, this time by five lengths, which proved to be the last of three Group 1 successes.

Pilsudski
Sir Michael Stoute

The exploits of Pilsudski are perhaps one of the finest examples of Sir Michael Stoute's aptitude with nurturing and improving horses as they age and develop.

The son of Polish Precedent failed to inspire in maidens at three and succumbed to a heavy defeat on his handicap debut off 82 at Ascot, but an ascent through the ranks was only around the corner.

A pair of Group 3 triumphs arrived at four before Pilsudski made his Group 1 breakthrough in Germany in the autumn, a victory which provided the catalyst to a phenomenal five-year-old campaign.

A triumvirate of magical victories which encompassed an Eclipse, an Irish Champion Stakes and a Champion Stakes prior to a Japan Cup swansong ensured Pilsudski remains prominent among Stoute's superb training achievements.

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