Over the last few weeks, there have been a number of juveniles who have established themselves as top-class two-year-olds which makes for an exciting prospect for the Classic generation of 2020.

Several two-year-olds have caught the eye and laid a marker for big the big three-year-old races in 2020 such as the QIPCO 2000 & 1000 Guineas.

Find out which horses make up our top five list of two-year-olds to look out for.

Pinatubo
The hugely exciting Godolphin colt put in one of the best performances of the year on 15th September at the Curragh. After beating classy rivals at Group 1 level by such a distance, it’s no surprise that many have been comparing him to Frankel. Pinatubo has even been rated higher than Frankel under the BHA ratings, he’s got a rating of 128 which is 2lbs higher than Frankel at the same point in their careers!

Pinatubo’s performance in the Vintage Stakes impressed many at Goodwood, however, his nine-length victory in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes was on a different stratosphere.

Not only was the performance extremely pleasing on the eye, the stats back up how incredible the victory was. At 1 minute 21 seconds, it was the second fastest time in the history of the race only beaten by Hawk Wing in 2001. Hawk Wing’s win was also on good to firm compared to good ground which Pinatubo ran on and in the driving ran. An epic performance!

The hype doesn’t end there, William Buick has said that he’s “the best two-year-old he’s ever sat on!” Buick continued to say that “he is a lovely horse to be around and he is a horse that has got a great mentality, a great brain and is very laid-back, which is obviously a help for everyone around the horse.”

Pinatubo is set to go for the Dewhurst on Saturday 12th October and then the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. He’s unsurprisingly the short-priced favourite for both and connections will be hoping he can extend his five-race unbeaten run.

Pierre Lapin
Trainer Roger Varian has had to be patient with his classy two-year-old, but the patience paid off last Saturday when Pierre Lapin won the Group 2 Mill Reef on his second start.

Pierre Lapin won well on his maiden back in May but the months following the horse wasn’t quite right for big race action so Varian decided to skip the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. The decision proved a master stroke.

Jockey Andrea Atzeni believes he can be a Group 1 horse next season after guiding him to a one and a half-length victory at Newbury.

After the victory Varian said, “He’s not a rock-and-roll two-year-old and we’ve had to be patient. He’s a horse for next year and will have learned a lot. I think he’s a six-furlong horse – when he’s a stronger horse I think he’ll be a faster one.”

The colt has the pedigree to excel as a top-level sprinter, his half-brother Harry Angel won the Mill Reef back in 2016 and went on to become a multiple Group 1 winner.

Varian has had a wonderful season so far, having his first Royal Ascot winner and two Group 1 victories to his name including the Coronation Cup at Epsom. Pierre Lapin could well add to his growing list of Group 1 winner next season.

Quadrilateral
A Juddmonte horse that won by a big distance despite breaking poorly, remind you of anyone!?

The Frankel filly showed she has the attributes that made her famous father so great. A thrilling turn of foot and the ability to leave her rivals a long way back in the rear-view mirror.

Last weekend, Quadrilateral moved herself to QIPCO 1000 Guineas favourite after a stunning nine length victory

Her jockey Jason Watson said, “She’s beaten the field well there. We have always liked her, and she is a strong two-year-old, but she should strengthen a bit next year.”

We are likely to see the daughter of Frankel return for one more run this season in either to Group 1 Fillies’ Mile or the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes on Friday 11th October at Newmarket.

Siskin
Juddmonte have another top-quality two-year-old on hands.

The bay colt is unbeaten in four races, his last victory in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at Curragh was mightily impressive. Siskin toughed it out to win in unfavourably soft ground against top-class rivals Monarch Of Egypt and Royal Lytham.

Trainer Ger Lyons claimed his first Group 1 in Ireland, eight years after his other Group 1 success with Lightening Pearl in the 2011 Cheveley Park Stakes.

Lyons said, “we learned that this is one good, tough horse. My confidence was shot all week with the rain, purely because we knew he was better on a fast gallop than a dead one, and his forte is that burst of speed, which he still showed there.”

Lyons is hugely excited about a potential clash with Pinatubo, “There’s a horse over in England that we’re all very impressed with in Pinatubo. That clash would be something to witness if that came about.”

Fingers crossed they’ll meet in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas in May!

A’Ali
The Simon Crisford-trained flyer has an impressive CV in his short career. Three Group 2 race victories to his name including the prestigious Norfolk stakes at Royal Ascot.

A’Ali bounced back in his most recent race following a defeat in Deauville to land the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.

With Frankie Dettori in the saddle, the 6-4 chance tracked the pacesetting Irish raider Wheels On Fire and quickened up smartly in the last half-furlong to score by a length with something to spare.

Crisford has set his sights on Breeders’ Cup glory for A’Ali after his victory at Doncaster. Frankie is unbeaten on A’Ali and he can’t wait to get to California. A sharp five furlongs on quick ground at Santa Anita will play to his strengths.

Great British Racing.com