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 1 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, 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 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York.
His defeat of Gstaad at Newmarket to end the season followed a sole defeat in the Group 2 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 1 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 1 honours in the Sumbe Prix Morny at Deauville to go alongside her victories in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group 2 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.”
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 1 Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket was matched by Precise’s success in the Group 1 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 1 winners in 2025. He also matched his previous best total of nine two-year-old Group/Grade 1 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 10 horses in the Classification.
“Two of the four Ballydoyle Group 1-winning colts ended the year tied as Champion two-year-old in Ireland on a rating of 119. Gstaad landed the Grade 1 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 1 Qatar Prix Jean Luc Lagardere and the Group 1 Criterium International in France by season’s end.”
See the full 2025 European 2yo Classification here.
Ones to Watch in 2026
Graeme Smith
Talk Of New York (Wootton Bassett – Usherette)
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.
Protection Act (Starspangledbanner – Privacy Order)
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.
Enoch (Frankel – Darkova)
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.
▶️ Alongside the publication of the 2025 European 2yo Classification today, BHA Handicapper Graeme Smith has picked out three of last season’s lightly-raced juveniles to follow in 2026.#BHAhandicapper pic.twitter.com/uhXmVUSOE4
— British Horseracing Authority (@BHAHorseracing) January 20, 2026
Mark Bird
Shosholoza (Australia – Ecosse)
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.
Montreal (Sea The Stars – Muwakaba)
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.
