Fast Steps

Millman, who operates out of Kentisbeare in Devon and has sent out an impressive 42 winners already this season, credits his son Patrick with keeping Fast Steps on side. Patrick Millman has ridden him in 11 of his races and won once aboard him, but the relationship matters beyond the numbers — the horse needs his brain kept in gear, and familiarity helps. The trainer has been blunt about it: Fast Steps has genuine ability, he just requires careful management to show it.

On the right ground, that ability surfaces most clearly. On fast, dry ground he has won 2 of his 12 races — 17%, or roughly 1 in every 6 — which is a meaningfully better return than his overall record. The trainer has said he goes on better ground, and the numbers back that up. His first win came at Sandown Park in August 2022, and his most recent at Newbury in July 2024 under Oisin Murphy, a pairing that underlines he can attract top jockeys when the moment is right.

That Newbury win is now 22 months old, and Fast Steps has not won in his last six races, finishing 3-5-9-4-7-3 in that spell. He has not been disgraced — there are places and near-misses in there — but converting those runs into victories has proved elusive. He typically competes at Class 4 level, the fourth tier of British racing, where he has won 2 of his 24 races at that grade. He raced just yesterday, which means the team clearly believes there is still something to aim for. At eight years old, with dry summer ground approaching and a trainer who knows exactly how to ride him, another win is not out of the question.