The 2019 European flat racing season produced many moments to remember. Enable's gallant bid for a third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe foiled by Waldgeist, Battaash's brilliant performance in the Nunthorpe Stakes, a near five-way finish to the Derby at Epsom, Blue Point's Group 1 double during Royal Ascot, Stradivarius sweeping the Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers' Million bonus again, a shock front-running winner in the Irish Derby, a sensational juvenile who has been rated 10lbs clear at top of the official European Two-Year-Old Classifications, and much more.
Blue Point and Enable won three times at the highest level, a feat also achieved by Iridessa, Magical, and Star Catcher. Stradivarius, Waldgeist, and 2018's two-year-old champion Too Darn Hot were among the dozen who won two Group 1s during the year. In all, 65 horses won a Group 1 race in Europe - including a first at that level for one trained in Hungary - with five others who won a Group/Grade 1 race on another continent for a European trainer.
Coolmore Stud's phenomenal stallion Galileo (by Sadler's Wells) dominated the sires' championship yet again and was responsible for ten individual Group 1 winners. Kildangan Stud stallion Shamardal (by Giant's Causeway) achieved the notable feat of having three undefeated Group 1-winning two-year-olds - including the exciting champion Pinatubo - and Cheveley Park Stud's outstanding stallion Pivotal (by Polar Falcon) was the star broodmare sire again, matching his 2018 tally of eight individual Group 1 winners.
The Aidan O'Brien team in Ireland won Group 1 races with 11 different horses, including both the Derby and Irish Derby, whereas Enable, Stradivarius and Too Darn Hot were among seven top-level winners for the John Gosden stable in England.
All 70 horses have been discussed in essays that recap their racing career to date, examine their pedigree, and comment on their prospects. Some are now gone to stud, but many of them will be back in action in 2020.
