Is The Lion In Winter the highest-rated two-year-old of 2024?

Simply put, no, not quite, at least not according to Timeform.The international ratings organisation actually has The Lion In Winter is joint-second place, alongside the filly Lady Victoria, with a Timeform Annual Rating of 119p, and the pair rated 1lb inferior to Shadow Of Light. Neverthless, The Lion In Winter, owned by John Magnier and his Coolmore associates Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith and trained by Aidan O’Brien, remains top-priced 6/1 favourite for the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby, and 10/1 for the St. Leger.

The unbeaten son of 2009 Cartier Horse of the Year Sea The Stars displayed a potent turn of foot when winning his maiden, over seven furlongs, at the Curragh in July 2024. He then made a seamless transition to Pattern company when accounting for Wimbledon Hawkeye and the hitherto unbeaten Ruling Court in the Acomb Stakes, also over seven furlongs, at York the following month.

The Lion In Winter missed his next intended engagement, in the Goffs Million, the most valuable race in Europe for juveniles, at the Curragh in late September with a bruised foot. He was subsequently re-routed to the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket a month later, but was withdrawn on the morning of the race with an abscess.

Reflecting on the latter decision, O’Brien said, “You race them at two to teach them for next year and I suppose we saw plenty from him the last day. It would be tough ground too and that might not have been ideal to bottom him in that either.”