Mark Howard nominates his dark horses to follow for the 2025 flat season from William Haggas' Somerville Lodge Stables.
CROWN OF OAKS 3 b c Wootton Bassett – Forest Crown
A son of Wootton Bassett, he is bred to be smart being a full-brother to Royal Ascot winner English Oak and a half-brother to Pattern race winners Forest of Dean and State Occasion. A 260,000gns yearling, he was partnered by Pat Dobbs in a twelve runner maiden at Newmarket’s Sun Chariot Stakes meeting in early October. Racing in midfield, Crown of Oaks never threatened the principals but finished strongly under hands and heels, filling third position – he was fastest in the final furlong covering it in 12.23 seconds, according to Race Iq. A length and a quarter behind the Godolphin owned winner Secret Theory, the runner-up (Spirit of Summer) was fifth in Group 1 company next time before winning at Southwell in March and is officially rated 90. His performance evoked memories of Economics nearly twelve months earlier. William Haggas has mooted the idea of Crown of Oaks reappearing in the one mile confined maiden stakes at Newbury (12th April), which both My Prospero (2022) and Economics (2024) won en route to bigger and better things. Entered in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket (3rd May), the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp (11th May) and Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly (1st June), he will appreciate stepping up to a mile plus.
CROWN IMPERIAL b c Frankel - Waldlerche
Entered in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp (13th July), he is a half-brother to the 2019 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist. A 450,000gns yearling, the Frankel colt was immature last year and will improve with age, according to William Haggas. Owned by Newsells Park Stud, he is likely to make his debut over ten furlongs and will stay further. He is considered a smart long-term prospect who will be even better next year.
