Midnight Lion

The six-year-old has been in superb form lately. Three wins from his last six races is the kind of run that marks a horse at the top of its game, and his most recent victory came on New Year's Day 2026 at Newcastle. That win was even more impressive than it sounds. Goldie revealed afterwards that the horse had developed a sinus problem and been on antibiotics, so the yard went into the race with low expectations — and Midnight Lion won anyway. A horse winning through illness is a sign of genuine class.

Goldie has spoken about what makes Midnight Lion tick, and there is something almost paradoxical about it. When he is allowed to lead and control the race, he is nearly impossible to pass. But if a rival decides to go after him and force a battle for the lead, both horses tend to tire — a kind of mutually assured destruction. As Goldie puts it, it is a catch-22. The horses that beat him tend to be the ones brave enough to take him on early, even knowing it might cost them too.

His most trusted partner in the saddle has been Lauren Young, who has ridden him to 6 wins from 13 races together — nearly 1 in every 2 rides ending in victory, which is an exceptional partnership by any measure. Jockey Paul Mulrennan, who rode him at Newcastle, described him as a horse who explodes out of the gates, stays calm in front, and keeps digging when asked. That combination — instant speed, a cool head, and a fighting finish — is exactly what you want in a specialist over seven furlongs to a mile on an all-weather track. After a short break of 83 days, Midnight Lion will be ready to do it all again.