We’re now deep into the heart of the flat racing calendar. The Guineas are behind us, the Derby and Oaks have delivered fresh classic winners, and Royal Ascot has – as ever – brings spectacle, shocks, and serious quality.
From the best courses for punters, like Newmarket and Epsom, and across the summer’s flagship fixtures, we’ve seen established names confirm their class and emerging stars announce themselves on racing’s biggest stages and look to shock those placing a horse racing bet.
It’s also the point in the season where narratives start to settle. Juvenile hype gives way to hardened form. Questions about stamina, class and versatility are answered in front of packed grandstands and global audiences. Champions aren’t just talked about – they’re tested.
In this article, we assess four horses who’ve stood out so far. Some have lived up to lofty expectations; others have arrived with less fanfare but made just as much impact. Whether through consistency, flair or raw power, each has left a clear impression on the 2025 flat racing season.
Field of Gold
He’s fast becoming the headline act of the flat season, and Field Of Gold’s devastating win in the St James’s Palace Stakes confirmed his status.
Against a strong field that included not one but two fellow Guineas winners – Henri Matisse and Ruling Court – he turned the race into a procession, finishing with such authority that comparisons to Frankel, Kingman, and Palace Pier didn’t feel remotely out of place.
Held back early to avoid being caught wide, Colin Keane timed his challenge to perfection. As the race began to take shape around the final bend, Field Of Gold surged through the field, sweeping past the front-runners with barely a shake of the reins. The acceleration was electric; the win, emphatic.
This was the performance of a miler out of the very top drawer – smooth, strong, and still seemingly with more to give. Now proven on quicker ground and with tactical versatility in his locker, the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood beckons, with the Juddmonte International at York shaping up as a mouth-watering test over 10 furlongs. Unbeaten so far in 2025, it’s entirely plausible we won’t see him lose again this season.
Desert Flower
Among the standout performers this summer, few have impressed more than Desert Flower, who announced herself in style with a commanding win in the 1,000 Guineas.
Sent straight to the front by William Buick, she dictated the tempo from the far side and never looked under serious pressure. A late surge from outsider Flight briefly threatened, but Desert Flower always had more in reserve, pulling clear to win by a length. The much-hyped Lake Victoria faded into sixth – a telling measure of Desert Flower’s dominance.
Her victory formed part of a superb Classic campaign for Godolphin, with Ruling Court capturing the 2,000 Guineas and Sovereignty striking in the Kentucky Derby, giving the global operation top-level success across the board.
For Charlie Appleby, Desert Flower represents a new high point among his fillies – a horse with the pace to lead, the strength to stay, and the composure to manage the pressure of the big stage.
Lambourn
A surprise package in the Epsom Derby, Lambourn defied expectations with a bold, front-running display that outstayed better-fancied rivals.
Trained by O’Brien but ridden by Wayne Lordan – not always the first-string choice – Lambourn led from the front and never looked back. It was a performance of stamina, strategy, and sheer will. He’s bred to stay further and may be aimed at the St Leger or even international contests. Either way, his Derby win was a season highlight.
