Glacius

That one win came at Newmarket in August 2025, when Glacius broke his duck in a race where the team hadn't taken victory for granted. Godolphin — the sport's most powerful operation — had an entry, and another rival had already caught the eye on debut. Hugo Palmer, who trains Glacius out of his yard in Malpas, Cheshire, was confident, but the opposition was real. Glacius won anyway, and the manner of it clearly left an impression. Palmer has described him as "quite special" — words a trainer of his experience doesn't reach for lightly.

Since that win, Glacius has finished third in his last three races. That might sound like a rut, but the context matters. The form from his run in the Ascendant Stakes — one of those third-place finishes — is reportedly working out well, meaning the horses who beat him are themselves going on to win, which suggests Glacius was mixing in decent company and performing creditably. He is bred to do exactly that: his mother is a sister to Qualify, the winner of the Oaks, one of the most prestigious flat races in Britain.

Palmer has been specific about what Glacius needs: fast, dry ground. He won't run him on wet or muddy surfaces, which means the horse's season is partly dictated by the weather — a frustrating reality for any racing fan following him. The plan, if conditions allow, is to aim at either the Zetland or the Autumn Stakes, both top-tier autumn targets for horses with Classic ambitions. If neither works out this season, the longer-term dream is a Derby trial next year, potentially with a Derby entry to follow. The Derby, run at Epsom in June, is the most famous flat race in the world for three-year-olds.

Palmer's yard has sent out 67 winners this season alone, so this is not a stable that needs to talk a horse up. The fact that Glacius is being spoken about in the same breath as Classic trials tells you plenty about how he is regarded behind the scenes.