Early September saw two of the biggest meetings of the autumn months, with the 2026 editions of the St Leger Festival and the Irish Champions Festival. Away from the headline events of the St Leger Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes, potential stars of the future were on show on both sides of the Irish Sea.
While a few horses had their bubbles burst, others only enhanced their growing reputations. After four days of action in Donny and two in Ireland, the following quartet had all shortened in the 2027 Classic markets.
Musical Times – May Hill Stakes
- Trainer – Charlie Appleby
- Sire – Lope De Vega
Hailing from the yard of Charlie Appleby and sporting the famous Godolphin blue, Musical Times produced a sizzling performance on Day 1 at Doncaster. While arriving with a perfect two-for-two record, wins in Class 3 novice company were to be expected of a nicely bred sort from such a powerful yard. She faced a far tougher challenge stepping into Group 2 company for the first time. Or at least she did on paper.
To say Musical Times blew a promising field away would be something of an understatement. Facing rivals from the yards of Aidan and Joseph O’Brien, John and Thady Gosden, and Andrew Balding, among others, she proved herself in a completely different league. Sauntering into contention at the furlong pole, she moved smoothly through the gears to open up a yawning gap of seven and a half lengths at the line.
Charlie Appleby’s only previous May Hill Stakes winner, Desert Flower, went on to claim the 1,000 Guineas in her Classic campaign. Following this performance, Musical Times attracted significant support to follow suit. Initially trimmed from 25/1 to a general 12/1, she continued to shorten into a widely available 4/1.
Desert Castle – Champagne Stakes
- Trainer – Charlie Appleby
- Sire – Frankel
Having unleashed a leading 1,000 Guineas contender on Day 1, Charlie Appleby had the colt’s division in his sights on Saturday afternoon. With only one run under his belt, Desert Castle arrived with even less experience than Musical Times. However, such was the impression he made on debut that he started as the even-money favourite in the Champagne Stakes.
While not quite as dazzling as his stablemate on the opening day, the son of Frankel was again much too good for the competition. Looming up to join Aidan O’Brien’s Sergei Diaghilev in the straight, he galloped three lengths clear under little more than a hands-and-heels ride.
Neither of Appleby’s two previous Champagne Stakes winners went on to land the 2,000 Guineas; Outstrip (2013) finished last of 14 in 2014, while Emotionless (2015) skipped the Newmarket contest. That fact did little to deter the oddsmakers, who made Desert Castle the new 5/1 favourite for the colt’s Classic following a performance jockey Billy Loughnane described as “faultless”.
Darkness Falls – Golden Fleece Stakes
- Trainer – Aidan O’Brien
- Sire – Camelot
With Appleby revealing the big guns at his disposal in Doncaster, Aidan O’Brien provided a glimpse of his 2027 Classic armoury at Leopardstown and the Curragh. Heading into the 2026 edition of the Golden Fleece Stakes, O’Brien had won 11 of the previous 19 editions. He now has a round dozen, thanks to a horse who went into many a notebook following his seven-length maiden success at the Curragh.
Sent off as the even-money favourite in a race upped to 1m1f and promoted to Group 1 company for the first time, Darkness Falls put his rivals firmly in the shade. Around four lengths off the pace around the home turn, he made up that ground in a matter of strides when switched to the outside. Asserting his superiority at the furlong pole, he forged on under Ryan Moore to score by a widening 4½ lengths. Sired by the 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner, Camelot, Darkness Falls is the new favourite for the 2027 edition of the Epsom Classic at a general 8/1.
Sun Goddess – Moyglare Stud Stakes
- Trainer – Aidan O’Brien
- Sire – Sioux Nation
Having already appeared six times at the track in 2026, Sun Goddess had more starts than Musical Times, Desert Castle, and Darkness Falls combined. Successful in four of those outings, including a Group 1 win in the Phoenix Stakes and an incredible victory in a sales race at York, she had climbed towards the top of the juvenile fillies’ division. Having conclusively proven her talent over six furlongs, she faced a new test as she tackled the seven furlongs of the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
Being sired by speed influence Sioux Nation, she wasn’t certain to stay the trip on pedigree. However, punters kept the faith, seeing Sun Goddess off at 4/7 to master her five rivals. Once underway, the strapping filly answered the stamina question in emphatic style, using her giant stride to streak six and a half lengths clear on the run to the line. That finishing effort also saw Sun Goddess displace Musical Times at the head of the 1,000 Guineas market. Available at 9/1 before the race, she is now as short as 5/2. Much water can flow under the bridge between now and May 2027, but the early evidence suggests we could be in for a classic Godolphin vs Coolmore battle in the opening fillies’ Classic.
