Champonie

She is trained by George Boughey at Newmarket, and the scale of his operation gives some context here. His yard has sent out 99 winners already this season — that is not a trainer who sends horses out without a plan. When Boughey spoke about Champonie earlier this spring, he was clearly excited about what she could become. He mentioned the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes as a target, a prestigious race that would represent a significant step up in class, and felt she was on a mark — essentially the weight she carries to level the field — where she could be genuinely competitive. He also floated the idea of her stepping up into top-level company over the shortest distances on the track. That is not the kind of talk you hear about ordinary horses.

What makes Champonie's story compelling is the combination of youth and achievement. Three-year-olds are still maturing physically and mentally, yet she has already built a career record of three wins and three places from just four races — meaning she has finished in the top three 75% of the time, or in real terms, in the money six out of every eight opportunities you would expect her to have over this kind of run. The sixth-place finish yesterday breaks her winning streak, but one run rarely defines a season. With a big sprint target on the horizon and a trainer clearly believing there is more to come, Champonie looks like a horse worth following closely over the summer.