Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 8 September 2025

The ‘number crunchers’ will have their say at some point, but without having access to all the figures my impression is that this year’s crop of middle-distance three-year-olds is distinctly ordinary.

Dual-Derby winner Lambourn finished fifth of seven in the Great Voltigeur, three lengths behind Pride Of Arras, who had been beaten 50 lengths by him at Epsom and then by 20 lengths at the Curragh.

Epsom runner-up Lazy Griff has been ruled out of the St Leger with an injury and we have not seen Amiloc since his victory in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Zahrann, who finished three-quarters of a length runner-up there, has subsequently dropped down in trip to ten furlongs to win the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh.

Johnny Murtagh’s colt wasn’t seen at his best on the fast going at Ascot, but on good ground he can use his turn of foot although it takes him a while to click into gear.

He should have the underfoot conditions to suit him in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, where he has the current favourite Delacroix to beat.

Delacroix, who finished 16 lengths behind Lambourn at Epsom, got up close home to beat Ombudsman just under a month later in the Coral-Eclipse before that rival reversed form in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Delacroix, on 126, is rated 15lbs ahead of Zahrann, on 111, but I’ll be very disappointed if that is the margin that divides them on Saturday.

The hardest horse to assess is Pride Of Arras, who is rated on 116 following his return to winning form, on his first run since being gelded, in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

I’m not convinced that the nature of the tracks were solely to blame for his poor performances at Epsom and the Curragh, and the latest news suggests he will be earning his keep overseas in the immediate future.

However, in the fullness of time he could end the year one of the highest rated of the season’s three-year-olds … a remarkable possibility for a horse, now gelded, who was beaten 50 lengths in what now looks a run-of-the-mill Derby.

I’m not sure Saturday’s St Leger will clarify the picture. Scandinavia, rated 117, is a progressive stayer with an admirable attitude but he was rated on 89 when he won his maiden over a mile and a quarter in May. He is now very much a stayer rather than a middle-distance performer.

That may be the destiny of Lambourn if he were to win on Saturday. His connections would be favouring some black type over a mile and a quarter if they were campaigning him with an eye to his future in the paddocks.

The best middle-distance three-year-old of either gender may turn out to be Minnie Hauk, currently rated 117 and as short as 4/1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

However given the vast amount of investments that Coolmore, Godolphin and Juddmonte put into the industry, it must rank as disappointing that between them they have not managed to find a top-class middle-distance performer to dominate such a mediocre crop.

I’ll be back with my reflections on an intriguing few days next Monday.

Bye for now

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