Six Greenham winners who marked themselves as future stars at Newbury

Prior to the Watership Down Stud Greenham Stakes, we look back at six horses who went on to scale great heights after winning the Newbury Group 3.

Mill Reef

After ending the 1970 season officially rated the second-best European two-year-old, Mill Reef entered 1971 with a lofty reputation. Trainer Ian Balding selected the Greenham as his stable star's first three-year-old engagement and he duly delivered an authoritative four-length victory in a manner that befit the confidence behind the 4-9 favourite.

Mill Reef: Ian Balding's star colt won the Greenham in 1971

After being beaten for what turned out to be the second and final time in his career in the 2,000 Guineas by Brigadier Gerard on his next start, Mill Reef went on to to compile one of the finest Flat seasons of all time. Victories in the Derby and the Eclipse were supplemented by a dominant display in the King George, before he rounded off his season in style when winning the Arc at Longchamp.

Wollow

After victories in the Champagne Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes in 1975, Wollow was another to arrive at Newbury on the back of a top-class two-year-old campaign that by the end saw him rated 133. Trained by Henry Cecil, he would win the Greenham easily, setting him up perfectly for a bid at the 2,000 Guineas.

Victory at Newmarket quickly followed as did further success in the Eclipse – which he was awarded after the winner Trepan tested positive for a banned substance – and Sussex Stakes. He went on to complete a stellar season with victory in the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (now International Stakes) at York.

Turtle Island

If ever a horse was a ground specialist, it was the Peter Chapple-Hyam trained Turtle Island. Winner of the Norfolk, Phoenix and Gimcrack Stakes as a two-year-old, the son of Fairy King was an impressive eight-length winner of the Greenham in 1994.

Firm ground resulted in a decision to sidestep the 2,000 Guineas, and after a game second in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains he was then aimed at the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Relishing the heavy ground at the Curragh, Turtle Island proved far too good for his eight rivals when winning by 15 lengths – a feat no horse has bettered in the last 30 years.

Paco Boy

A winner of two of his three starts as a two-year-old, Paco Boy began his three-year-old season in 2008 with victory in the Spring Cup at Lingfield. A trip to Newbury for the Greenham was next on the agenda and the 6-1 third-favourite produced a performance of real quality, handling the soft ground much the best and accounting for Bobs Surprise in the final 100 yards.

Victories in the Lennox and Hungerford Stakes preceded a maiden Group 1 success in the Prix de la Foret, a victory that signalled the three-year-old to be one of the top milers in Europe.

Consistent in top-class races over the next two seasons, Paco Boy would win the Sandown Mile twice, the Lockinge, and, arguably the highlight of his career, the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Frankel

Four victories, including the Group 1 Dewhurst, as a two-year-old signalled that racing may well have a new star on the scene. Frankel lined up for the Greenham in April 2011 as the 1-4 favourite and obliged with a four-length win over Excelebration.

Trained by Henry Cecil, Frankel then showed his superstar qualities when destroying a top-class 2,000 Guineas field before reeling off another eight victories in a career considered by many to make him the finest Flat horse of all time.

Kingman

After running just twice in his two-year-old season, there was plenty of excitement surrounding Kingman as he entered his Classic season in 2014 but also plenty of questions.

Kingman: winner of the Greenham Stakes in 2014Credit: Edward Whitaker

John Gosden decided to aim the son of Invincible Spirit at the Greenham, where he travelled sweetly before quickening clear of Night Of Thunder for a four-and-a-half-length victory. The pair would meet again three weeks later at Newmarket, where Night Of Thunder would exact revenge over his better-fancied rival.

However, that would be the only defeat of Kingman's career as he landed the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Prix Jacques Le Marois before retiring to stud at the end of his three-year-old season.

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