The rising stars of spring - 3-year-olds

We have picked out a selection of 10 of the most exciting 3-year-olds, a list which while we don’t expect will be the definitive guide to the spring's top-class winners, it does give an indication of the level of expectation there is about the next generation of stars.

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Farnan (Not A Single Doubt x Tallow (Street Cry {Ire}) )

Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Farnan proved himself the top seed of the 2-year-olds last season, winning five of his six starts, including the G1 Golden Slipper S., where he beat two of the three other 2-year-old Group 1 winners of last season in Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and King's Legacy (Redoute's Choice).

He headed straight to the paddock after that, skipping the chance to win further Group 1 races, instead spending some time in the Queensland sun over the winter before returning to the Waterhouse/Bott stable about a month ago. He will trial in the next couple of weeks before likely resuming in the G2 Run To The Rose. From there, it is likely he will contest the G1 Golden Rose, and should he continue his dominance, then it is likely he will contest The Everest, and then possibly the Coolmore Stud S.

He also holds nominations for the G1 Caulfield Guineas and the G1 Cox Plate, but that path seems unlikely. His spring direction could also be determined by a possible change of ownership, with Kia Ora Stud reportedly set to purchase an interest in the colt.

Rothfire (Rothesay x Huss On Fire (NZ) (Hussonet {USA}) )

Trainer: Robert Heathcote

While he had already won five of his first six starts before the G1 JJ Atkins S. it wasn't until he completely dominated that race, winning by 3.3l, that Rothfire was elevated in the public mind to one of the rising stars of the Australian turf. And what a story he has been. A sales reject, bought for $10,000 by trainer Robert Heathcote, he has now won over $750,000 and shapes as a leading contender in the major races of the spring.

Rothfire is back in work and will trial at Doomben on August 11, before having another jumpout ahead of a first-up run in the G2 Run To The Rose on September 12. From there, the G1 Golden Rose will be his destination, with Heathcote also entertaining thoughts of contesting The Everest. His trainer is planning on sending him south without him, because COVID-19 restrictions are likely to mean Heathcote is unable to move back and forth between states. Rothfire also holds a nomination for the G1 Caulfield Guineas.

Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt x Miss Sharapova (NZ) (Ustinov) )

Trainers: John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes

The word 'untapped' very much applies to this $1.1 million Orbis Bloodstock-owned colt, whose two racetrack appearances featured a soft 2-year-old win at Randwick, followed by a 4l romp in the G3 Kindergarten S. Team Hawkes are masters of getting these talented colts to peak in their 3-year-old year and many good judges have Doubtland on their list of horses to watch for the spring.

The G1 Golden Rose looks an ideal spring target for him, but it wouldn't completely surprise to see Team Hawkes also look to target the G1 Coolmore Stud S. a race they won last year with a horse of a similar profile in Exceedance (Exceed And Excel). Doubtland is expected to make his first appearance at the trials in the coming weeks.

North Pacific (Brazen Beau x Up in Lights (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) )

Trainers: John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes

Team Hawkes have taken a different path with their other star colt from Orbis, North Pacific, having already kicked his campaign off with a comfortable win at Rosehill last month. He only had one previous start as a 2-year-old, running third behind Farnan in the G2 Silver Slipper S., a debut performance which showed he deserves to be considered among the best 3-year-old spring prospects.

North Pacific, who was the $800,000 Sale topper at last year's Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, trialled earlier this week, and again looked sharp and will be the horse with the race fitness on his side should he head towards the G1 Golden Rose which looks likely. He is also nommed for the G1 Caulfield Guineas and G1 Cox Plate.

King's Legacy (Redoute's Choice x Breakfast In Bed (Hussonet {USA}))

Trainers: Peter and Paul Snowden

Is it possible for a dual Group 1 winning 2-year-old to go into the spring under the radar? King's Legacy has all the attributes to be one of the boom horses. He's a $1.4 million yearling who won both the G1 Inglis Sires' and the G1 Champagne S. and is trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, who are considered one of the finest 'stallion-makers' in the game, while his ownership group is headed by astute judge, James Harron.

Interestingly, Paul Snowden indicated last week that he would go first-up into the G1 Golden Rose, after which a decision would be made on which direction he goes. The Caulfield Guineas, a race which he is nommed for, looks an ideal spring target, while there is also the possibility of the Cox Plate. However, if he proves himself more of a sprinter, he could also be targeted at The Everest and the Coolmore Stud S. He is set to trial this Tuesday.

Peltzer (So You Think (NZ)) x Miss Otto (Elusive Quality {USA}) )

Trainer: Gerald Ryan

He lacks the profile of a few of the others on this list, but Gerald Ryan's colt has been super impressive in his three wins to date, especially his most recent success on a heavy track at Randwick back in May when he led all the way to win by 4l.

Peltzer looks a professional racehorse, with natural speed, who should take considerable improvement into his 3-year-old season. Ryan opted not to take him to the JJ Atkins S., which could prove a masterstroke in terms of his spring prospects, and in particular, his shot at the Golden Rose, which is set to be his major target, while Ryan is also keen to look at the Caulfield Guineas.

Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)) x Vasilissa (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}))

Trainers: Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young

Tagaloa's win in the G1 Blue Diamond S. established him as one of the season's best 2-year-olds, and he backed that up with two good performances in Sydney, running second to Farnan in the G2 Todman S. and then fourth in the Golden Slipper. Having had six starts as a juvenile, he has had a good spell, with Trent Busuttin reporting he had bulked up in the break.

He looked sharp in a Cranbourne jump-out earlier this week and will resume in the G3 McNeil S. at Caulfield on August 15, with COVID-19 border restrictions to determine whether he contests the Golden Rose or the G3 Guineas Prelude on his way to his ultimate Spring Carnival target, the Caulfield Guineas, Busuttin has not ruled out a tilt at the Cox Plate either.

Away Game (Snitzel x Elusive Wonder (Elusive Quality {USA}))

Trainers: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace

Away Game proved herself the iron horse of the 2-year-old ranks last campaign. She was a pre-Christmas stakes winner, claimed the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, won a G3 Widden S., ran fourth in a Blue Diamond S., then second in the Golden Slipper S. before winning the G2 Percy Sykes. Not content with that, she then took on the open age fillies and mares in the G1 Robert Sangster S. finishing a creditable fifth.

It’s probably little wonder that Maher and Eustace are looking to give her a quieter start to the spring. She is nommed for the Golden Rose S. the Thousand Guineas and even the Cox Plate, but her stated spring goal is the G1 Manikato S. after which she will look to the G1 Coolmore Stud S.

Hanseatic (Street Boss (USA) x Itameri (Exceed And Excel) )

Trainers: Anthony and Sam Freedman

Godolphin colt Hanseatic made quite an impression in his 2-year-old campaign, winning a trio of stakes races to start his career before a narrow second in the Blue Diamond S. before never really getting into the race when 10th in the Golden Slipper S.

The plan, according to his co-trainer Sam Freedman, will be sprint races in Melbourne kicking off with the G2 McEwen S. in September, then the Manikato S., before a shot at the Coolmore Stud S. He does hold nominations for the Golden Rose and the Caulfield Guineas, but that path seems unlikely.

Hungry Heart (Frankel (GB) x Harlech (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) )

Trainer: Chris Waller

The Yulong-owned filly is a bit of a smoky on this list, but her 2-year-old performances, added to the esteem she is held in by jockey James McDonald, puts her among the must watch 3-year-olds of the spring. A runner-up at Flemington on debut, Hungry Heart impressed with her win in the G2 Sweet Embrace S., while she was not far from the action in the Golden Slipper, finishing fifth at just her third start.

Nominated for all the spring 3-year-old features, she trialled well in her first serious spring hitout at Rosehill on Tuesday, ridden in behind runners. The daughter of Frankel (GB) is currently a clear favourite for the G1 Flight S., and could dominate the fillies in the Princess Series.