Alamshar, a three-year-old son of Key of Luck captured the Irish Derby (Ire-G1) on June 29 at Leopardstown and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-G1) on July 26 at Ascot before coming home fourth to High Chaparral in the Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-G1) at the Curragh on September 6.
Trained by John Oxx, Alamshar has won five of eight starts in two seasons and has earned $2,034,168.
High Chaparral made his first start of 2003 in the Champion Stakes and is slated to travel to France for a start in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) at Longchamp on October 5.
Gus Schickedanz’s Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando is also among the nominees, but trainer Mike Keogh stated on Wednesday that son of Langfuhr would likely prep for the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships with a start in the Indiana Derby (G3) at Hoosier Park on October 4.
Other nominees include Irish and French classic winner Vinnie Roe, and Group 1 winners Warrsan, Sabiango, and Mamool.