The 2019 Boozy Punter Horse of the Season

Congratulations to...

Japan

Tony's single pick edged out Magical and Stradivarius to take the title with three big points wins.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Galileo had a very good 2 year-old season finishing with a Group 2 win at Naas. Ryan Moore took the first ride of the classic season which was a fourth-placed finish behind Telecaster in the Dante.

Wayne Lordon was on board for the Derby and dropped his whip 100 yards out before steering his mount to a close up third place, beaten half a length and a nose. That run looked to be the turning point for the horse.

Moore was back in the saddle three weeks later for the mile and a half King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot. The 6/4 favourite cruised clear of the field, Bangkok the nearest challenger, to win by four and a half lengths.

Another three weeks on and it was another win for Japan. This time at Longchamp and a first Group One in the Grande Prix de Paris (won the previous year by stablemate Kew Gardens) by half a length from Slalom at 1/2.

The next target was York in August and the Group One Juddmonte. Ryan Moore prevailed in a tremendous finish against the favourite, super-consistent Crystal Ocean. A half stone pull in the weights proving decisive against the Michael Stoute's five year-old.

Japan couldn't finish the season on a high in the Arc. It was a fourth-placed finish behind Waldgeist, Enable and Sottsass. Will Japan be back for another tilt at the top prizes next year?

The top three were:

182.7 - Japan (43.9 + 53 + 85.8)
174.7 - Magical (21.1 + 26.1 + 12 + 12 + 51.7 + 51.8)
167.2 - Stradivarius (21.6 + 51.8 + 51.5 + 21.2 + 21.1)