Gewan crowned Europe’s Champion Juvenile for 2025

The Andrew Balding-trained Gewan has been confirmed as the European Champion Juvenile for 2025 with a rating of 121. 

A winner of the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket’s Rowley Mile in October, Gewan’s final mark has been agreed by a panel of international handicappers and enabled the colt to hold off the significant challenge of, in particular, a group of high-quality Ballydoyle colts. 

- GEWAN (121) rated 2lb clear of joint champion two-year-olds in Ireland GSTAAD and PUERTO RICO.

- He becomes the first champion since Too Darn Hot in 2018 to not be trained by either Aidan O'Brien or Charlie Appleby.

- PRECISE and TRUE LOVE the highest-rated fillies (115), with VENETIAN SUN (114) the highest-rated in Britain. 

- All 10 fillies in the 40-strong classification are rated within just 5lb of each other.

- Ballydoyle domination: Aidan O'Brien is responsible for six of the top 11 in the classification, having won three of the six two-year-old winners at Royal Ascot, enjoyed nine Group One wins, seven individual Group One winners and 50 individual two-year-old winners in Ireland.

- A great year for NIGHT OF THUNDER: Gewan, Bow Echo and Distant Storm all in top 11 of classification, in a year also lit up by Ombudsman and Desert Flower.

- Four French-trained horses feature in the classification, headed by Christopher Head's Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up NIGHTTIME (114).

Gewan, recruited from the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale for €80,000 having been purchased originally from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, followed up a debut win at Newbury in July with an impressive defeat of Italy (112) in the Group Three Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York.

His defeat of Gstaad at Newmarket to end the season followed a sole defeat in the Group Two Betfred Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and confirmed him a leading Classic prospect for 2026. 

Following Gewan is the Aidan O’Brien-trained pair of Gstaad and Puerto Rico, each with a mark of 119, while stablemates Hawk Mountain (116) and Action (115) also take high rank. 

O’Brien is also responsible for the highest-rated fillies in the Classification, with Precise and True Love being awarded a mark of 115. 

The second-highest rated British representative, with a mark of 118, is the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Zavateri. A winner of four of his five starts, the Without Parole colt won the Group One Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh prior to finishing fourth behind Gewan in the Dewhurst. 

Britain’s highest-rated filly is Venetian Sun. Trained by Karl Burke, she too took Group One honours in the Sumbe Prix Morny at Deauville to go alongside her victories in the Group Three Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (sponsored by bet365) at Newmarket’s July Festival. 

Graeme Smith, BHA Handicapping Team Leader, said: “Gewan became the first outright European Champion 2YO to emerge from Kingsclere in the 48-year history of the classification, bettering the achievement of Andrew Balding’s previous Dewhurst – and subsequent QIPCO 2,000 Guineas – winner Chaldean (119) in 2022.

“He follows Forest Flower (125 in 1986) and Mrs Penny (joint Champion in 1979 at 121), who were both crowned Champion 2YO Fillies for Andrew’s late father, Ian. 

“Gewan’s 121 performance in defying long odds in a representative Darley Dewhurst Stakes capped a stellar year for his sire, Night Of Thunder. As well as being represented in 2025 by the top-class Ombudsman and QIPCO 1,000 Guineas winner Desert Flower, the Darley stallion established a strong hand for the 2026 Classics.

“Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes winner Bow Echo and Distant Storm, who finished third behind the imposing grey Gewan in the Dewhurst, also rank within the top 11 in this year’s Classification.” 

Smith added: "He's a strong, galloping sort. He has only raced up to seven furlongs so far, but there is no doubt in my mind that he will stay a mile. There's a good chance he will stay a bit further than that.

"121 for the Champion Two-Year-Old is towards the lower end of what has been achieved over the 48 years of the classification. Since the turn of the century, there have already been four champion two-year-olds rated lower: St Mark's Basilica in 2020 and Shadow Of Light in 2024 were both 120, Camelot was 119 back in 2011, and surprise Dewhurst winner Belardo was 119 in 2014. There is, however, enough depth around Gewan to have the confidence that he's worth his figure."

IHRB Handicapper Mark Bird said: “Aidan O’Brien trained Europe’s Champion Juvenile Filly for the third year in a row and for a record ninth time in total as Precise and True Love shared top billing on a rating of 115.  

“True Love’s victory in the Group One Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket was matched by Precise’s success in the Group One Bet365 Fillies’ Mile at the same track two weeks later.  

“In what was a banner year for the Ballydoyle-trained two-year-olds, Aidan trained a record seven individual two-year-old Group/Grade One winners in 2025. He also matched his previous best total of nine two-year-old Group/Grade One race wins in a calendar year, as well as equalling his highest total of two-year-old winners (three) at Royal Ascot.  

“This dominance of the two-year-old landscape is reflected in his being responsible for six of the top ten horses in the Classification. 

“Two of the four Ballydoyle Group One-winning colts ended the year tied as Champion two-year-old in Ireland on a rating of 119. Gstaad landed the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar after running up three times in elite company, while Puerto Rico went from strength to strength to win both the Group One Qatar Prix Jean Luc Lagardere and the Group One Criterium International in France by season’s end.” 

With little between any of the fillies in the classification and the international handicappers failing to split either Precise or True Love on 119, who might emerge as the best three-year-old?

Mark Bird commented: "It was a very competitive landscape this year. We ended up with six fillies covered by essentially 2lb at the top of the list, so it was not an easy decision to make. True Love and Precise are just 1lb ahead of Venetian Sun. With Precise, there was a progression from run to run, she finished the season on an upward curve.

Graeme Smith added: "We keep all our own figures throughout the year and then come together in the autumn and decide on champions and amalgamate what we have done.

"I have to say on my figures True Love for much of the summer, with her fillies' allowance taken into account, was the one to beat. 

"I had her rated above much of the colts when you take into account the allowance. She slammed Puerto Rico, a Group One winner, and Power Blue, who won the Phoenix Stakes as well. She beat them both well in the Railway.

"Even her Royal Ascot success, I thought it was a horrendous draw she had. She made all in her group and the second filly home in her group finished 14th in the Queen Mary, so. thought it was a hugely creditable performance over a trip that was short of what she was going to need.

"We rate two-year-old form and not three-year-old potential, but if you were going to ask us which is the one for next year, I would be looking towards DIAMOND NECKLACE.

"I thought she had the wow factor she won from a poor position, and then was anything but all out to win the Marcel Boussac.

"The thing with Precise, she had everything in her favour in the Fillies' Mile, with a strongly-run race and was ridden out to the line, we got the perfect conditions to show her off.

"I don't think Diamond Necklace got anything like the same conditions to show the true extent of her ability. She is only 2lb behind, so I think she probably has a bit more up her sleeve.

Pierre Bonnard created a huge impression when making good on his market confidence to win the Zetland Stakes in October and followed up that victory with a comfortable Group One win in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, also over a mile and a quarter.

Despite this, he emerged from Tuesday's classification as the lowest-rated of Aidan O'Brien's top level winners in 2025. Yet, as Graeme Smith explained, there is scope for that rating to be higher in the season ahead.

"His win in France was really good, but he still looked immature there and maybe took a while to just get rolling, but once he did, he put the field to bed really well. His trainer has stated he is the ideal type for Epsom.

"He looks as if he should stay really well and there's not a lot to dislike, being by Camelot.

"I was at Newmarket that day for the Zetland and it reminded me of Sea The Stars in 2009. As soon as he walked into the parade ring, it was almost jaw dropping. He looked different class and it was as if you were looking at a champion. Time stood still briefly!"

"There are horses that have been beaten in Group Ones and even Group Twos with higher ratings, it goes to show you the tasks he's been set so far, but he hasn't been all out to win either.

"I consider him the perfect sort for a mile and a half. The Derby is usually won by the best horse regardless, maybe it is overplayed whether they handle the track or not. I've got to say, he didn't strike me as one that wants to go uphill or downhill on a left camber and things like that, but Aidan would know more about this type of thing than I would - but overall I'm sure he's a very good horse."

Trainer: Charlie Appleby 

This colt created a huge impression when blowing a 13-runner maiden at Kempton apart on his sole start in October, thrashing the 82-rated Go Rimbaud by five-and-a-half lengths, with a further four back to Impossible Dream, both of whom endorsed the form next time. 

Not only did Talk Of New York do remarkably well to put so much distance between himself and the others off a modest pace, he also clocked a superb time in the circumstances, without looking flat out. 

By a brilliant stallion and out of a Duke Of Cambridge winner, he is exciting. 

Trainer: George Boughey 

George Boughey has a leading Guineas contender in the shape of Bow Echo but there’s a lesser-known one in his care that could also make a splash in the Classic trials and beyond in the shape of Protection Act.  

The son of Starspangledbanner looked a surefire Pattern colt when winning a strong maiden at Haydock in July, going further on the bridle than anything else and never flat out despite having had to delay his challenge while looking to secure a clear run. 

The time of the race is excellent for a debutant – it supports a figure as high is 99 – and while he wasn’t seen again last year, the form got stronger and stronger in his absence, with four of the next five home all finishing the campaign rated above 90. 

Assuming his absence proves to be nothing serious, he could be one to look forward to. 

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden 

One of a host of once-raced winners sent out by the Gosdens last year, Enoch overcame a disadvantageous position to beat three experienced rivals who are all rated north of 80 when winning a novice at Newmarket in September. 

Having been shuffled back behind other runners, Enoch was the best part of five lengths down with less than three furlongs to race but made that up and went right past without ever needing maximum pressure.

His effort was all the more encouraging considering seven furlongs is likely to be at the bottom end of his stamina. This half-brother to the French Derby and Champion Stakes winner Almanzor looks to have a bright future. 

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien  

Shosholoza created a taking impression when landing a Tipperary maiden on debut in early October in a good time. Overcoming a slow start, he learned quickly during the race and ran out a ready winner from a subsequent Curragh maiden winner. 

He acquitted himself well when taking a huge step up in class just three weeks later, running fifth in the Criterium International.  

From a Juddmonte family, his pedigree is abundant in stamina and with some requisite experience under his belt at two, he could develop into a very smart staying prospect at three.

(Sea The Stars – Muwakaba) 

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 

Montreal made light work of eight rivals when romping home an eight-length winner of a Leopardstown maiden in early August. Although setting a steady pace in making all the running on that occasion, his finishing fractions were impressive and he looked a colt potentially from the top drawer.

The only horse sired by Sea The Stars among the 50 individual two-year-old winners trained in Ireland at Ballydoyle in 2025, he looks to possess a nice blend of speed and stamina and could potentially emerge to take high rank among the three-year-olds this coming season.