THE Thoroughbred Daily News has a ‘TDN Rising Star’ accolade which it gives to horses who impress their analysts. Their ability to spot the early talent of winners is world renowned. Maybe I should consider something similar for my column, as a look back on the previous 119 columns shows that I have (modestly) predicated future success on a number of occasions.

One of these occasions was just seven weeks ago when I wrote about a pair of maiden winners in Ireland and France, and both have gone on to enjoy stakes wins recently. The French winner was Luminate who ran away with the Group 3 Prix de Conde and in the process provided the most timely of boosts for her sibling, who days later was going under the hammer in Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.