James Willoughby: Ten Breakouts In 2015

With the Turf season in Britain over, now is a good time to add up the numbers, construct the metrics and see who redefined themselves via their exploits in 2015. As expected, numerous candidates can be considered, but here are 10 favorites drawn from the ranks of stallions, trainers and jockeys who are worthy of particular note.

1. Silvestre De Sousa (Jockey)

Champion Jockey for the first time, the 34-year-old Brazilian took his profile to an even higher level. A long-time favorite of those who study jockey ratings, De Sousa put together an absolutely brilliant six-month domestic campaign between March and August, in which he partnered 123 winners from 590 rides at a better than 21% strike rate. His mounts continually outran their odds, posting a 120% Return On Investment for backers.

2. Dark Angel (Sire)

The Yeomanstown Stud stalwart had an even better campaign with precocious juveniles, producing Birchwood (Ire), Gutaifan (Ire), Log Out Island (Ire), Steady Pace (GB) and Easton Angel (Ire). In all, he has produced more than 120 winners. But his real breakout came in the sales ring where, after Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation bought into him, prices raised by his stock rose sharply compared with 2014. His yearlings fetched an average of 95,000gns (up from 62,000gns) with a median of 60,000gns (up from 35,000gns). In Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale at Newmarket, a yearling sister to Mecca’s Angel (Ire) was sold for 825,000gns.

3. Richard Fahey (Trainer)

Long established as one of the most prolific trainers in Britain, Richard Fahey took it all to another level in 2015, smashing his already impressive career marks for winners and prize money. At time of writing, he is on the 221-winner mark, already up 29 on his personal best. His runners have earned more than £3.7 million and included smart juvenile Birchwood, a first runner for the stable at the Breeders’ Cup, in which he finished a close third in the GI Juvenile Turf. Fahey’s breakout campaign was accompanied by one for stable rider Tony Hamilton, who is fast approaching a century of winners for the year, having never bettered 65.

4. Mark Johnston (Trainer)

In terms of winners, it was business pretty much as usual for the extraordinary Scotsman. A great exponent of the staying horse, his particular breakout came in the juvenile division, in which a new emphasis provoked by a greater influx of well-bred Maktoum family horses resulted in 68 wins, 28 more than last year. Potentially brilliant filly Lumiere (Ire) (Shamardal) and the colt Buratino (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) were the headline acts and both go into 2016 as candidates for their respective Guineas at Newmarket.

5. Leading apprentices (Jockey)

While 17-year-old Tom Marquand earned the official title of Champion Apprentice with 54 wins for the period May 2 to Oct. 17, several other bright young stars emerged in Britain. The other leaders among males were Jack Garritty (52 wins), Shane Grey (33), Cam Hardie (32), Eddie Greatrex (31) and Rob Hornby (24), while Sammy Jo Bell (24) and Rachel Richardson (23) were the leading females. Bell also starred at the Shergar Cup at Ascot in August, claiming the award for leading rider ahead of the some of the top names in the world.

6. Fastnet Rock (Sire)

Fascinating Rock (Ire), Qualify (Ire) and Diamondsandrubies (Ire) were the leading performers for a Coolmore stallion who had taken longer than expected to reproduce his superb Australian results in the Northern Hemisphere. With the exploits of these runners, the son of Danehill has now sired 22 different Group 1 winners around the world. His yearlings went for an average of 98,000gns at British and Irish sales–the best of four years in which they have been available here.

7. Hugo Palmer (Trainer)

Though not possessing the horsepower to run up a huge total of winners, Newmarket trainer Hugo Palmer nevertheless made a big impression in 2015. His talent sourcing must be exceptional, for of 47 different horses to represent him this year, no fewer than 11 (23%) gained a Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 100+. His best runner was G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille winner Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), while Gifted Master (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Galileo Gold (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), New Providence (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and Hawksmoor (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) developed well.

8. Pat Cosgrave (Jockey)

A link-up with Newmarket trainer William Haggas saw Pat Cosgrave return to the spotlight in 2015. Champion Irish apprentice as far back as 2003 and the winner of 82 races in 2008, the Northern Ireland native bounced back from a troubled 2014, in which he picked up a four-month riding ban in Dubai (which was not reciprocated in Britain), to break his best total and partner runners like G2 Great Voltigeur S. winner Storm The Stars (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

9. Zoffany (Sire)

The leading first-crop sire in Britain and Ireland with £750,000 in earnings, Zoffany has a chance to become more than an auctioneer’s refrain for “the horse who got closest to Frankel.” His runners Foundation (Ire), Illuminate (Ire), Washington DC (Ire) and Waterloo Bridge (Ire)–the last two for connections associated with his Coolmore base–were his leading performers by RPR.

10. Simon Crisford (Trainer)

Former Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford sent out more than 20 winners in his first season as a trainer at the highest strike-rate of any stable with more than 75 runners. His 28% winning clip was boosted by four wins for G3 Solario S. winner First Selection (Spa) (Diktat {GB}), who is on course for the UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan in 2016.