We continue our look back at 2023, with City Of Troy advertising his star potential, Frankie Dettori continuing his epic winning run before his surprise about-turn on retirement plans and a Christmas miracle at Kempton courtesy of Hewick…

July

In early July Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy made his debut at the Curragh before going on to land the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket by six and a half lengths. Via Sistina’s success continued with a Pretty Polly win at the Curragh before Auguste Rodin added an Irish Derby victory to his Epsom title. In the Coral-Eclipse it was Paddington who prevailed, beating Emily Upjohn in a hard-fought finish at Sandown. On day one of the July meeting, Israr landed the Princess of Wales’s Stakes ahead of Adayar, with Nostrum also impressing in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes. Nashwa was at her brilliant best to land the Falmouth and the following day it was the turn of the sprinters in the July Cup, which was won by the speed star of the season in Shaquille. Gold Cup winner Subjectivist was retired midway through the month, then at the Curragh, Art Power thrived to land the Sapphire Stakes for Tim Easterby. At the same meeting Savethelastdance took the Irish Oaks and Emily Dickinson the Curragh Cup, whereas on home soil it was Relief Rally who came out on top in the Super Sprint at Newbury. The month ended with a King George victory for Hukum, who defeated Westover by a head in the Group One at Ascot.

August

The month got under way at Goodwood, where Haatem took the Vintage Stakes, Kinross prevailed in the Lennox Stakes and Quickthorn ran away with the Goodwood Cup on the opening day. On day two, Big Evs’ brilliant run continued in the Molecomb Stakes before Paddington landed another Group One when taking the Sussex Stakes. Vandeek then burst onto the scene when taking the Richmond Stakes on only his second start, with Al Husn’s Nassau win another highlight of the day. Highfield Princess stormed home in the King George Qatar Stakes to maintain her status as the sprint queen, but the final day of the meeting was abandoned midway through due to heavy rain. At the Curragh, Bucanero Fuerte won the Phoenix Stakes and over in Deauville Inspiral was the winner of the Prix Jacques le Marois for the second year in a row. Ace Impact won the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville, another significant run on home turf. The Ebor meeting at York was the scene of defeat for Paddington in the Juddmonte International, a race ultimately won by Mostahdaf as Nashwa came home second. Relief Rally took the Lowther, Dragon Leader was a stunning winner of the sales race and Warm Heart landed the Yorkshire Oaks, after which there was a real underdog success in the Nunthorpe when Live In The Dream prevailed at odds of 28-1 for Epsom trainer Adam West. Kinross won the richly-endowed City of York on the last day, when Willie Mullins’ Absurde took the Ebor itself under a particularly inspired Frankie Dettori.

September

Tahiyra struck again at Leopardstown to land the Matron Stakes, as Diego Velazquez impressed in the Juvenile Stakes to get the Ballydoyle team off the mark before Auguste Rodin’s victory in the Irish Champion Stakes. At the Curragh, Henry Longfellow caught the eye when winning the National Stakes and over the sprint trip Moss Tucker took the Flying Five for Ken Condon. Eldar Eldarov then secured an Irish St Leger crown to go with his earlier English St Leger prize for the Roger Varian team. At Haydock, it was Ed Bethell’s Regional who scored in the Sprint Cup, a first Group One for the young trainer and a major milestone for the North Yorkshire yard. Eyes then turned to Doncaster for the St Leger meeting, where Darnation took the May Hill and Sumo Sam claimed the Park Hill on the opening day. Big Evs bounced back from Nunthorpe disappointment to land the Flying Childers and Trueshan took the Doncaster Cup on day two, with the Champagne Stakes going to Iberian on day three and the St Leger won by Continuous for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. Paddy Twomey seemed to unearth some gems at the Curragh as Deepone took the Beresford and One Look ran away with the Goffs Million in a six-length win, after which the Irish Cesarewitch was won by 150-1 outsider Magellan Strait for Joseph O’Brien. Andrew Balding’s Array won the Mill Reef in a poignant success for the stable, after which France came into focus for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting at ParisLongchamp. Trueshan landed the Prix du Cadran to get the British on the board, with Sea Silk Road then taking the Prix de Royallieu for William Haggas and Poker Face winning the Prix Daniel Wildenstein for Simon and Ed Crisford.

October

The big day of the Arc meeting fell on October 1, where Rosallion took the opening Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Opera Singer won the Prix Marcel Boussac ahead of the main event. Ace Impact was the winner for Jean-Claude Rouget, with Westover a gallant second, beaten a length and three-quarters. Highfield Princess did connections proud once again when taking the Prix de l’Abbaye for John Quinn and his team. Then came the news that Frankie Dettori’s retirement would in fact be postponed as he revealed plans to head off to California instead. He still received a send-off on Champions Day at Ascot, however, where he won the Champion Stakes aboard King Of Steel – potentially his last ever ride in Britain. Other winners on the card included Art Power in the Champion Sprint, Poptronic in the Fillies & Mares Stakes, Big Rock in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup. City Of Troy demonstrated his huge potential once again at Newmarket with a straightforward Dewhurst success, while the Cesarewitch was won by The Shunter. Ancient Wisdom won the final Group One of the season, Doncaster’s Futurity Trophy in the style of a Derby horse. Attentions switched the National Hunt code, with news the Grand National field would be reduced to 34 along with other changes to improve the safety of the race.

November

The Breeders’ Cup took place at Santa Anita and Big Evs struck a huge blow for the raiding party when landing the Juvenile Turf Sprint for Mick Appleby before Adam West’s Live In The Dream was a gallant fourth in the Turf Sprint. Inspiral landed the Filly & Mare Turf and it was Auguste Rodin who took the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Gentlemansgame denied Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall, a race that signals that the National Hunt term is well under way. Training great Henrietta Knight announced her return to the game as a licence holder. Gordon Elliott started the season in incredible form with a Down Royal six-timer, swiftly followed by a five-timer at the same track. Gerri Colombe was one of the successes, winning the Ladbrokes Champion Chase from Envoi Allen. In Bahrain, Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed an international Group Two strike as the Richard Fahey-trained Spirit Dancer was a brilliant winner of the Bahrain International Trophy. Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon made light work of the Shloer Chase on his comeback, as Facile Vega kicked off in style over fences at Navan. Hayley Turner hit a significant career milestone of 1,000 winners on a Chelmsford evening, before Equinox swept to a four-length victory in Japan Cup, sealing his status as the world’s best racehorse. Both the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and runner-up were beaten in separate races as Royale Pagaille held Bravemansgame in the Betfair Chase and both Fastorslow and Appreciate It beat Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan. Shishkin refused to start in the 1965 Chase at Ascot which was won by Pic D’Orhy in his absence. The industry was quick to rally around Graham Lee, who sustained serious injuries in a heavy fall at Newcastle early in the month and remains in hospital. A fundraiser organised by his daughter raised over £170,000 for the Injured Jockeys Fund.

December

Gavin Sheehan and Jamie Snowden teamed up to take the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury with Datsalrightgino, but the Fighting Fifth could not go ahead due to the weather, so Constitution Hill’s return to action was delayed. The rearranged race was held at Sandown and neither Constitution Hill nor stablemate Shishkin ran due to the ground, with Hughie Morrison’s Not So Sleepy the winner as the outsider in a field of four. Jonbon’s fine start to the season continued as he landed the Tingle Creek from Alan King’s Edwardstone, while at Aintree the Becher Chase was won by a female jockey for this first time as Lucy Turner steered Chambard to victory for Venetia Williams. Arkle winner El Fabiolo took the Hilly Way Chase at Cork by a decent margin to underline his Champion Chase claims after Jonbon’s success. Baroness Harding then became the first female senior steward of The Jockey Club. Constitution Hill did finally reappear, at Kempton in the Christmas Hurdle – winning as odds of 1-12 suggested he would. The King George VI Chase was far less predictable, and for much of the way anyone watching Hewick – a horse who cost a mere £800 – could have been forgiven for ripping up their ticket. But in an astonishing finish – which included Shishkin departing when slipping following the second-last, where he was going strongly in front – Shark Hanlon’s charge roared home under Gavin Sheehan. At Leopardstown’s big festive meeting, Galopin Des Champs impressed in the Savills Chase, State Man won the Matheson Hurdle and Marine Nationale oozed class on his fencing debut.