5 race horses to watch in 2023

Brad Bishop has picked five horses to watch in 2023. They are not yet Group 1 winners but have a good ratings profile.

Vilana finished 14th in the Group 3 Gold Rush (1400m) last start. The start prior he posted a Timeform rating of 119 to win The Hunter (1300 m). Vilana is a son of gun wet-track sire Hallowed Crown.

5 race horses to watch in 2023 are: Canterbury Stakes (1300m), All Aged Stake (1400 m), Kingsford Smith Cup ( 1300) and Stradbroke Handicap (1500m).

Francesco Guardi won the Moonee Valley Cup last year. Chris Waller didn't pay up for the Flemington two-miler with Francesco. The son of Frankel has the equal-best Timeform figure since Americain (124) in 2011.

5 race horses to watch in 2023. Prime Group 1 targets are anything 2400m-plus. His year is likely to be planned around the Melbourne Cup (3200m).

James Cummings won last spring's Caulfield Guineas. Golden Mile rated 114 to win the Group 1 Guines. Astern colt Aft Cabin won the Caufield guines Prelude three weeks earlier. Aaft Cabin is a clear favourite for the Randwick Guineaas in 2023.

Nugget won the Group 3 Lord Stakes at Sandown on Boxing Day. He missed a run in the $2 million Group 2 The Ingham. Ciaron Maher and David Eustace used the Boxing day meeting as a launching pad to Group 1 glory for Marabi 12 months ago.

There are 5 horses to watch in 2023. They are potential Doncaster Mile, Epsom Handicap (1600m), Toorak Handicsap and Doomben Cup.

Uncommon James won five of his six starts. He won the Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) but had a setback with a leg injury. His rating is low enough to get him into handicaps closer to the limit weight than the top.

5 race horses to watch in 2023. Prime Group 1 targets are Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Stradbroke Handiap.