OF all the pattern races held around Europe in the past 10 days one performance arguably stands out as being the most exciting. It is not just what the horse achieved on the afternoon in question, which appears to have been an excellent effort, but it is the promise that the victory holds for the future.

Some classic trials attract fields of mixed or debatable quality, but the recent Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes at York was dubbed by some as a ‘mini Derby’, such was the apparent strength of the small but select line-up.

Last year’s Group 1 Racing Post Trophy hero Elm Park finished an encouraging third on this his seasonal reappearance and yet was three and a quarter lengths behind the previously unbeaten favourite Jack Hobbs, a colt whose prior outing in a handicap had been one of the most impressive performances of the year to date.

The pair were put in their place, however, by Golden Horn who, like the runner-up, is trained by John Gosden, and the trio finished 13 lengths clear of their closest pursuer.

He won a Nottingham maiden on his only start at two, caught the eye with victory in the Listed Fielden Stakes over nine furlongs at Newmarket last month, and then took the Dante by two and three-quarter lengths.

He was staying on strongly at the end of this 10 and a half furlong contest, and although he may indeed be a top-class mile and a quarter horse in the making, there is every reason to believe that he will stay the Derby distance.

If he is to go to Epsom, where a victory would make his potential stallion value soar in a manner unlike most other races can make happen, then he will have to be supplemented. Hopefully he will be in the line-up on June 6th for, at this point, it is difficult to identify just who might be capable of beating him there.

Golden Horn was bred by Hascombe and Valiant Studs, and although he is by a miler son of a classic placed sprint champion, and his dam is a half-sister to a Group 1 winning miler, he is bred to stay the Derby distance.

Kildangan Stud stallion Cape Cross (by Green Desert) has already got a Derby hero to his name, namely the brilliant Sea The Stars, and also an Oaks champion in Ouija Board. With the right distaff side, any of his progeny have the potential to stay 12 furlongs.

Golden Horn is the second foal of his dam and his year-older half-sister Eastern Belle (by Champs Elysees) won a listed contest over 10 furlongs at Newbury last summer, the furthest distance she has been asked to try.

Their dam Fleche D’Or (by Dubai Destination) was unraced and her afore mentioned Group 1 winning sibling is the Coronation Stakes scorer and Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes runner-up Rebecca Sharp whose sire Machiavellian (by Mr Prospector) is generally a speed influence rather than one for middle-distances.

The next dam is Nuryana. She is a Nureyev (by Northern Dancer) mare out of a daughter of Habitat (by Sir Gaylord), which is a cross that, at the surface, suggests sprinter or miler speed, although one of her siblings, Casamurrae (by Be My Guest), stayed two miles.

Rebecca Sharp is not the only talented performer who represented Nuryana on the track, and it is the record of two of the others that suggests Golden Horn will stay the trip at Epsom.

Mystic Knight (by Caerleon) won the Group 3 Lingfield Derby Trial and Hidden Hope (by Daylami) won the Listed Cheshire Oaks, and while both are by stallions who are associated with middle-distance stamina, there are, as we know, two especially brilliant 12 furlong stars who share their sire with Golden Horn.

Nuryana’s other three blacktype earners include the stakes-placed miler Rosse (by Kris) and it catches the eye that when that filly was bred to Dubai Destination (by Kingmambo), and so produced what could be described as being a three-parts sister to the dam of Golden Horn, the result was a four-times winner from 11 and a half to 12 furlongs and who was also successful over hurdles.

That is a world away from the classics, and there are some relations who have failed to stay even 10 furlongs, but that filly, Dubai Glory, is another example of this family’s record when it comes to producing horses who can be effective at around a mile and a half.

There are, of course, no guarantees when it comes to pedigrees, and it is entirely possible that Golden Horn could come cruising two out at Epsom only to falter when his stamina is put to the test.

But, his pedigree lengthens the odds of that scenario unfolding, and if he really is the horse he looked to be that day at York, then Golden Horn could be one of the brightest stars of 2015.