Mark Howard nominates his dark horses to follow for the 2025 flat season from John and Thady Gosden's Clarehaven Stables.
ALTAREQ b c Frankel – Aneen (IRE)
Shadwell Estate Company owned, the son of Frankel is out of a mare who was Listed placed over a mile for Kevin Prendergast in Ireland. A full-brother to former stablemate Al Asifah, who looked a top-class filly in the making when winning the Listed EBF Agnes Keyser Fillies’ Stakes at Goodwood by six and a half lengths a couple of years ago, he could make his debut in the Wood Ditton Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday (2.25) – his stable won the contest in 2021 and 2022, while dual Group 3 winner Lead Artist finished runner-up last year - and is regarded as a useful prospect.
BANYAN 3 b f Siyouni (FR) – Sacred Path
The Lady Bamford owned Banyan made her racecourse bow in the seven furlongs fillies’ event at Newmarket (Good/Soft) in November, in which the same patron’s dual Classic winner Sariska made a winning start to her career sixteen years earlier. The Siyouni filly, who is out of a 1m 5f winning mare, came from the rear doing her best work late on and grabbing the runners-up berth. Beaten three and a half lengths by the well regarded Bright Times Ahead, she is from a family who progress with age and will come into her own over ten furlongs plus.
