2020 racing preview: 5 horses you need to watch

Looking forward to another exciting year of racing in 2020? We’ve got good news—there will be an abundance of talented horses to watch throughout the year.

With major names like Maximum Security, Midnight Bisou and McKinzie remaining in training for 2020, there’s already a lot to look forward to. But beyond the established stars, there are also countless up-and-comers waiting in the wings, who will add depth to the racing scene.

Which horses should you add to your watch list? These five prospects appear poised to shine bright in 2020.

Amazing Star

Are you a fan of the competitive racing circuit in Hong Kong? Then check out Amazing Star. Since he returned from an injury-induced layoff, this New Zealand-bred 5-year-old has scored two breathtaking victories sprinting 1,200 meters at Happy Valley. With champion jockey Zac Purton in the saddle, Amazing Star has won by an average margin of five lengths. Could the sky be the limit for Amazing Star? This rapidly improving gelding might just live up to his name in 2020.

Chrysoberyl

Six starts, six victories—this Japanese-bred grandson of Sunday Silence hasn’t tasted defeat in his home country. A standout star on dirt, Chrysoberyl proved his mettle against tough competition when he defeated group 1 winners Gold Dream and Inti in the 1,800-meter Champions Cup (G1) at Chukyo Racecourse. For a 3-year-old to beat his elders in a group 1 race is always a sign of significant ability, so keep an eye on Chrysoberyl in 2020. He could be a serious threat for the Dubai World Cup (G1) if his connections choose to hit the road.

British Idiom

With three victories from three starts, including grade 1 triumphs in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and Alcibiades Stakes, British Idiom was clearly North America’s leading 2-year-old filly of 2019. British Idiom will head into 2020 as the early favorite for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, where she can cement her budding reputation as a standout star.

Storm the Court

He may have been a 47-1 longshot, but Storm the Court showed the speed and tenacity of a very good horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in a substantial upset. Storm the Court has emerged as a key player on the Road to the 2020 Kentucky Derby and will bear watching whenever he runs this winter.

Shancelot

The 3-year-old sprinter Shancelot showed flashes of brilliance in 2019, most notably when he posted huge speed figures for his 12 1/2-length romp in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga. Shancelot continued to perform strongly as the season progressed and ended the year with a runner-up effort behind standout sprint star Mitole in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). With Mitole heading to the breeding shed, a bigger and stronger Shancelot can seize command of the division in 2020.