With the popularity of vampires peaking, observers of cultural trends have turned to the centaur as the candidate most likely to gallop into the hearts of America’s youth.

Citing the success of the Broadway production of Equus starring Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe, analysts contend that there has never been a more opportune moment for the mythical Greek creature composed of a human torso atop a horse’s body.

“In fact the real question is why it’s taken this long for the centaur to break through,” contends Phil Davis, a Greek mythologist-turned-market analyst avowedly bullish on centaur futures. “Look, it’s simple: little girls love ponies and women love bare-chested men, so it follows that centaurs skew young adolescent.  This thing is going to hit them right in their sweet spot.”

Asked who he envisions as the face of the forthcoming trend, Davis suggests Twilight star Robert Pattinson.  “He’s already so closely associated with sexy mythological creatures, so it will simply be a lateral move for him.   Plus he’s got those washboard abs, which are going to be front, center and on top of those glistening horse haunches.   Yeah, a centaur-Pattinson has major stud potential.”

While surpassing the popularity of vampires will be no easy task, the consensus among analysts is that centaurs are the cream of the crop when it came to “second-tier mythical creatures,” beating out lackluster contenders like the Minotaur and America’s own Bigfoot. Davis refers to the latter as “too mopey for the mainstream audience.”

“Bigfoot is to vampire as David Schwimmer is to Robert Pattinson,” elaborates Davis. “Unless whining is your thing, Bigfoot is no sex symbol.”

*co-written with Peter Queck