Who Are the Three Horses to Look Out for in 2018?

As we approach the Breeders’ Cup and the final couple of months of 2017, the leading trainers around the world will be preparing their 2-year-olds for next season, the biggest campaigns of their careers.

The Classics in the USA and the UK are only open to 3-year-olds; therefore, the best colts and fillies only get one shot at adding their name to history. Here are three horses to look out for in 2018:

Bolt D’Oro (USA)

Owner/trainer Mick Ruis’ colt Bolt D’Oro has been one of the most impressive North American 2-year-olds in 2017. He has two Grade 1 victories to his name, with his best performance coming in the FrontRunner at Santa Anita, where he blew his rivals away by over 7 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile race. Bolt D’Oro is sure to be one of the top runners in the 2018 Kentucky Derby in May, where the trip will be ideal for the colt. It’s difficult to say at this stage what the horse’s maximum trip will be, but his connections are likely to wait until he develops over the winter before deciding on whether they feel he has a shot at going for the Triple Crown in 2018.

Bolt D’Oro Favored for the First Saturday in November #BCSweepstakes #BC17 – https://t.co/Ua0Bef24Hz pic.twitter.com/nogCTGGNsQ

— Ely Stafford (@stafford_ely) October 23, 2017

Saxon Warrior (IRE)

Saxon Warrior ended his 2-year-old campaign recently with victory in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, the final top-graded contest of the season in the UK. Under the hands of Ballydoyle jockey Ryan Moore, the exciting colt picked up well inside the final 200 meters to remain unbeaten in 2017 and land trainer Aidan O’Brien his 26th Group 1 success of the calendar a year, a new world record beating the previous best set by Bobby Frankel. If you’re looking to back O’Brien’s colt for the British Classics next year, he is already the ante-post favorite for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, which is run over 1600m, while he also tops the betting for the Derby a month later at Epsom over 2400m. Interest in the race is set to be enormous, with ChampionBets having already carried out research into the Derby offers market presented by the likes of betsafe.

Moonshine Memories (USA)

Simon Callaghan’s filly Moonshine Memories goes into next year with an exciting future, as she’s already proven that she’s good enough to win Grade 1 races. The daughter of Malibu Moon first came to prominence after winning the Del Mar Debutante in September. She then followed that up with victory in the Chandelier at Del Mar over a slightly longer trip. Callaghan’s runner has certainly been the standout 2-year-old filly so far. It will be interesting to see if she continues to take on her own sex in 2018 or if connections decide to tackle the colts in some of the big 3-year-old contests, such as the Kentucky Derby.

RECAP: Moonshine Memories earns entry into #BC17 @14handswine Juv. Fillies with Chandelier win. #WinandYoureIN
More: https://t.co/rSAdTjocRB pic.twitter.com/D0n1yy3gzS

— Breeders’ Cup (@BreedersCup) October 1, 2017

Keep an eye for the majority of the leading 3-year-olds at the Breeders’ Cup this week at Del Mar.