The 2026 Flat season is edging nearer, with just over nine weeks left till the stalls open for the first two-year-old race of the new season.
A good time then to catch up Hambleton two-year-old squad, which once again features some striking individuals who’ll be bidding to put their horse racing syndicates in the winners’ enclosure.
Will there be a Washington Heights amongst this year’s cohort? Only time will tell but we hope there’s some proper quality amongst the youngsters discussed below, and that these horses can give their horse racing syndicates loads of fun.
Kevin Ryan trio hold sales race potential
Our strongest numerical team is with Kevin Ryan, with whom we secured three youngsters last autumn.
Our colt by Naval Crown out of Winter Oasis is a striking boy with plenty to recommend him.
Naval Crown, a son of the mighty Dubawi, won Britain’s most valuable maiden as a two-year-old, before progressing to become a Group 1 performer, and winning the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee.
His dam, a daughter of a Group 3 winner, adds further quality to the pedigree and this well-proportioned colt has been doing everything right so far as he learns the ropes at Hambleton Lodge.
He’s qualified for the big Harry’s Half Million sales race at York’s Ebor meeting as is our Kodi Bear ex Caryatid colt, also with Kevin.
He’s a smashing colt, who’s thrived since coming into training with Kevin.
Kevin has trained seven horses by Kodi Bear and all seven have been winners, including three 100+ horses. His dam is a daughter of the outstanding race mare Spacious, who finished runner-up in the 1000 Guineas.
We also have a lovely colt by Earthlight out of Company Jeed. He’s settled in well at Kevin’s since arriving from Ireland and is out of a mare with a perfect record – all three of her runners are winners.
Kevin trains one of Earthlight’s best horses to date and likes this young colt plenty.
Karl Burke’s duo showing quality at Spigot Lodge
Moving onto Spigot Lodge and Karl Burke is very pleased with our two recruits. As expected, our speedily bred daughter of Dandy Man (ex Funchal) appears a likely early runner.
Her dam was talented and is from a very fast family. It’s encouraging – and no surprise – to see she’s developing into a strong filly at home.
Moving well in Middleham, she’s likely to be one of our first two-year-old runners of the season.
The team have nothing but positive things to say about her at this stage and she’s a filly we’re all looking forward to.
Our colt by Lucky Vega (ex Fleeting Smile) has a great pedigree, being out of a mare who cost $500,000 that has produced smart horses at stud already.
He’s growing into a lovely individual at home and has been more forward than expected so far.
He’s had something of a growth spurt of late and Karl, a master at timing things right with his young horses, likes how he’s developing. He may be out and racing by the end of May, but very much looks a horse who’s going to improve and develop, just as his pedigree suggests.
David O’Meara’s Saxon Warrior colt likely to take time
Over at David O’Meara’s our Saxon Warrior colt out of Crowley’s Law was soon learning his trade last autumn and save a small break over Christmas hasn’t missed a beat.
He’s another well related youngster being a half-brother to the Stakes placed What’s Your Game, and looks a horse with plenty of quality about him who’ll develop into a fine middle-distance type later in his career.
Understandably, David is in no rush with him at this stage.
Archie Watson’s Australia colt shaping well
Down in Lambourn our Australia colt out of Antillia is big, strong and a hugely impressive mover.
Australia is by arguably the world’s best sire of sires Galileo, and renowned for producing high-class, durable horses that stay well, such as last year’s Derby winner Lambourn.
Our colt is a three-parts-brother to the Northumberland Plate winner Antiquarium, a high-class stayer who was rated 115 by Timeform.
A powerful, well-balanced horse, he’s proved a consummate professional in his exercise to date and is a horse Archie really likes. As you’d expect he’s likely to be active from mid-season onwards.
We’ve a lovely mixture of youngsters to look forward to this year and would like to take this chance to thank everyone in our horse racing syndicates that have supported our judgement with the class of 2026.
With limited shares left available in this group, our attention will soon turn to the breeze-up sales where we’ll look to add further quality to this year’s two-year-old team.
