Bay Of Brilliance

The consistency is there when you look at his form over six races: he's nowhere near the bottom, finishing fourth at worst, and has hit the frame in five of his last six starts. That fourth came as recently as four days ago, so he is very much an active runner and clearly being aimed at targets by his trainer, Robert Beckett, who runs one of the busiest yards in Britain with 107 winners this season already. Beckett has clearly seen something in this horse worth developing. After Redcar, he spoke of him as a "nice stayer for next season," emphasizing his toughness and maturity — the kind of compliment that suggests a horse with a real future rather than a flash in the pan.

What marks Bay Of Brilliance out is his temperament and his obvious liking for stamina races. Jockey Hector Crouch, who rode him to victory at Redcar, called him "a cool customer" and noted how he stays very well and loves soft ground. The horse has thrived at both Goodwood and Redcar, tracks that require genuine staying power. His trainer has hinted at bigger things ahead — mention of Derby trials at Chester or Lingfield, and an emphasis on how far he will run — suggesting this is a horse being groomed for major middle-distance racing. For a 3-year-old still finding his feet, Bay Of Brilliance has done enough to suggest he could be something special.