Cast ratings aside: which horse stole your heart in 2024? And who went into the notebook for next season? Brian Sheerin has been a little greedy, but we will let him off as it's the season of indulgence, and he is putting forward four names worthy of merit.
Horse(s) of the year: Porta Fortuna and Mehmas
On the track, this year belonged to Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) but Mehmas (Ire) deserves a huge amount of credit for breaking Kodiac's long-standing record for the number of two-year-old winners sired in a year. That's why this is going to have to be a toss-up between the pair.
Porta Fortuna was simply sublime this season. Few people would have put their neck on the block about Donnacha O'Brien's filly getting the mile this year given she never managed to score beyond 6f as a juvenile. But boy did she prove any of her doubters wrong.
After being narrowly denied by Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the 1,000 Guineas, Porta Fortuna mopped up a trio of Group 1s on the spin with victory in the Coronation Stakes followed by Falmouth and Matron Stakes triumphs. And that Leopardstown success was arguably the most impressive of them all, with Tom Marquand sling-shooting to the lead inside the final furlong to account for Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in what was an up-to-scratch renewal of the race.
The Breeders' Cup proved to be just one race too many for Porta Fortuna and she remains hugely exciting with a view towards next season.
As for Mehmas, what more is there to say? Not only did he break his Tally-Ho Stud mate's record, but he also took the step to the next level with a number of his progeny holding leading claims for Classic races next season.
One for next year: Cosmic Year
Cosmic Year (GB) created a lasting impression when brushing aside the well-regarded Rock d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) to win by over six lengths on debut for Juddmonte and Harry Charlton earlier this year. Not only was the margin of victory impressive, but it's safe to assume there was plenty of substance to the performance given Rock d'Oro had the benefit of a run under his belt. And what a run that was. Rock d'Oro gave Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) an almighty fright on his respective debut at Chelmsford, ultimately going down by less than a length, and we all know how good that form has proved to be given George Scott's stable star went on to land the G2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. For whatever reason, Cosmic Year did not run again after posting that impressive debut success at Sandown, but the Kingman (GB) half-brother to Time Test (GB) could well be up to Guineas standard in 2025.
Stallion to follow: Sioux Nation
Sioux Nation could be about the chart a similar path to Mehmas. That might seem a big statement but, given what Sioux Nation has achieved with lesser books of mares, one can only assume that he is ready to kick off and go to the next level in 2025 given that this will be his best crop of runners, on paper at least. It would be a surprise if he didn't come up with a proper juvenile next season.
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