Six of the best in a record-breaking year for Johnston

Dee Ex Bee and Sir Ron Priestley among star performers

It has been another record-breaking year for trainer Mark Johnston. Here we look at six of the Middleham handler’s best performers in 2019:

Dee Ex Bee

Runner-up to Masar in last season’s Investec Derby, Dee Ex Bee was sent down the staying route this term and has done very little wrong. Having kicked off his campaign with successive wins in the Sagaro at Ascot and the Henry II Stakes at Sandown, the four-year-old found only Stradivarius too strong in the Gold Cup, the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale Cup. It was a little disappointing he was unable to make the most of what looked an excellent opportunity in the Prix du Cadran, but he has still enjoyed a fine campaign.

Sir Ron Priestley

Despite running with credit in defeat on each of his two starts last season, few could have envisaged this son of Australia would end up bidding for Classic glory as a three-year-old. The son of Australia bolted up on his seasonal reappearance at Ripon and went on to win four of his next five starts – following up valuable handicap wins at Haydock and Goodwood with a Group Three triumph at the latter venue. He was best of the rest behind Logician in the St Leger at Doncaster and will surely make up into an exciting stayer next year.

Matterhorn

This four-year-old is another to have made giant strides this year, having been kept busy. The Raven’s Pass colt was kept on the go during the winter on the all-weather – a spell which concluded with him claiming the notable scalp of Wissahickon in the Easter Classic at Lingfield on Good Friday. He has found life a little tougher since being switched to the turf, but still managed to win a Listed prize at Windsor and has finished second in no less than five Group races.

Elarqam

As a son of Frankel out of Johnston’s brilliant mare Attraction, this four-year-old has had plenty to live up to since day one. Having looked every inch a top-class colt in the making as a juvenile, his 2018 campaign was largely underwhelming, but he has bounced back this year with three victories. A couple of Listed wins were outdone by a tremendous Group Two success in the York Stakes, after which he finished third behind the top-class pair of Japan and Crystal Ocean in the Juddmonte International. Hopefully he can be found a suitable opportunity to claim Group One glory next term.

King’s Advice

This remarkable five-year-old is the archetypal Johnston horse. Rated just 71 after being bought for 16,000 guineas last autumn, the son of Frankel won his first six starts for his new connections. Just when it looked like the handicapper had finally caught up with him after his sixth-placed finish in the Northumberland Plate, he bounced back to win valuable handicaps at Newmarket and Goodwood to stretch his seasonal tally to eight wins. He has been beaten twice since, but owes nothing after a 40lb rise in the weights.

Raffle Prize

She won three of her six juvenile starts, most notably landing the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot before following up in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket. She was only narrowly denied by the top-class Earthlight when stepped up to the highest level against the colts in the Prix Morny at Deauville, since when she was a hot favourite to strike Group One gold in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. She had to make do with minor honours again in second, but looks sure to win more races next year and could try her hand in the 1000 Guineas.

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