As we head into the Christmas period 24 juveniles have climbed into triple figures in the race for Timeform Champion Two-Year-Old honours.
So far the list is headed by Peter Snowden’s Earthquake who put up a smart performance (113+) on debut at Randwick.
Earthquake is one of four in the top two-dozen for last seasons Champion Sire Exceed And Excel with stablemates Mohave and Careless sneaking onto the list along with Mick Price’s Jabali.
Price has three of the top two-dozen currently under his care, perhaps the most interesting of his runners the recent debut winner Nordic Empire.
Nordic Empire put up a handy performance on debut and looks a decent contender for Blue Diamond lead-ups but his immediate racing future is under a cloud.
Snitzel sits level with Exceed And Excel on this measure, with four making the list for the son of Redoute’s Choice, headlined by Brisbane-based filly Oakleigh Girl.
Oakleigh Girl, who showed plenty speed winning at Flemington over Cup week, is out of Oakleigh Plate winner Miss Kournikova and is due to step out again this weekend in the Calaway Gal Stakes at Doomben where she will be out to stamp herself as the horse to beat in next months Magic Millions.
Risen From Doubt is one of two for sire Not A Single Doubt and currently the top colt seen in Australia this season.
His debut win in the Maribyrnong Trial was franked when the well beaten third horse Boomwaa (also on the list) stepped out to win the Maribyrnong itself.
Boomwaa was also beaten, finishing closer up but in lesser figures, in the valuable Inglis Banner on Cox Plate Day by another with an Adelaide connection in Silversands.
Silversands, by Dubleo, is one of three on the list by Vinery stallions with their star stallion Testa Rossa responsible for a pair, most notably last Saturday’s winner Unemcumbered.
Other notables include Alpha Miss, winner of the Gimcrack, and Law the son of first season sire Denman who won the Breeders Plate on the same day.