Promising Derby prospect Nightwalker will transition to the care of John and Thady Gosden following Sir Michael Stoute's retirement at the end of this season. Nightwalker, a son of Frankel, has shown strong potential during his two-year-old campaign under Stoute’s guidance, with highlights including a third-place finish in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket, where he finished with a strong closing effort under Oisin Murphy.
Nightwalker’s career began with a win at Yarmouth, and his recent performance at Newmarket has raised expectations for his three-year-old season. Juddmonte, his owners, are optimistic about his future, and European racing manager Barry Mahon praised the colt’s development, saying, "Oisin was very complimentary. He was caught for room, but finished strongly, and his last furlong was his best."
With Stoute stepping down, Nightwalker will move to the Gosden yard on Newmarket’s Bury Road, where he will be prepped for a potential Derby trial in early 2025. Nightwalker is currently listed at 50/1 for the Derby with Paddy Power, and the hope is that he will thrive in his new environment under the Gosden team.
Mahon added, "We’ll be guided by John and Thady over the winter, but he’s a horse we’d like to see start in a Derby trial next year."