America Queen

What makes her recent run especially encouraging is the consistency of it. In her last six races, she has finished second twice, fourth twice, and placed eighth once, with only one clear miss. That kind of rhythm — placing regularly, winning when the moment arrives — is the hallmark of a horse learning her trade. She won her first race at Haydock Park back in July, then made the breakthrough again at Pontefract this week, suggesting the track suits her or that the penny has finally dropped about how to finish a race properly. She raced just a day ago, so the yard are running her frequently, which usually means they see ability worth testing. Richard Hughes, her trainer at Upper Lambourn, has sent out sixty winners this season already, so the yard is in form and knows how to get the best from its horses. For a three-year-old still learning the game, America Queen looks like one with genuine progress still to come.