Timeform / Timeform / 27 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Racing Post Trophy winner now assumes favouritism for the 2010 Derby and 2,000 Guineas, moreover he has impressed the Timeform experts

"Sea The Stars, who like St Nicholas Abbey also won the Beresford, ended his 2-y-o campaign rated just 109p before going on to prove himself one of the all-time greats this season."

St Nicholas Abbey posted the fifth best juvenile performance since 1994 in winning Saturday's Racing Post Trophy, say Timeform.

In the past 15 years, only Celtic Swing, who Timeform rated a stunning 138 when winning the same race in 1994, Xaar, Johannesburg and New Approach have recorded better marks in their two-year-old careers.

To further put it into context, Sea The Stars, who like St Nicholas Abbey also won the Beresford, ended his 2-y-o campaign rated just 109p before going on to prove himself one of the all-time greats this season.

Timeform's Flat Editor Jamie Lynch commented: "We have rated St Nicholas Abbey on 126p, which makes him the leading juvenile of 2009, 1lb ahead of Canford Cliffs with the promise of better to come.

"Not only is he the best of this year though, he is the fifth best juvenile on our figures since Celtic Swing ran away with the Racing Post Trophy in 1994."

Timeform's top 10 juveniles this year

126p St Nicholas Abbey
125 Canford Cliffs
122p Arcano
119p Awzaan
119 Jealous Again
118 Special Duty
117 Beethoven
117 Showcasing
116p Elusive Pimpernel
116p Fencing Master
116+ Arctic
116 Siyouni
116 Xtension

Timeform's top 10 juveniles since 1994

138 Celtic Swing
132 Xaar
127 Johannesburg
127 New Approach
126p St Nicholas Abbey
126 Shamardal
126 Teofilo
126 Fast Company
125 Raven's Pass
125 Holy Roman Emperor
125 Queen's Logic

Timeform ratings of Racing Post Trophy winners who subsequently won Classics

1994: Celtic Swing 138 (French Derby)
2001: High Chapparal 115 (Derby)
2002: Brian Boru 117 (St Leger)
2003: American Post 117 (French Guineas)
2004: Motivator 120 (Derby)
2006: Authorized 117 (Derby)
2009: St Nicholas Abbey 126p (Guineas and Derby???)

Tags: Celtic Swing, Johannesburg, New Approach, Racing Post Trophy, Sea The Stars, St Nicholas Abbey, Xaar