Miletus

The recent form figures of 6-2-5-2-10-2 tell an interesting story. Miletus keeps finding its way into second place — three times in its last six races — which suggests the ability is there, but something is stopping it from converting. It's the kind of horse that makes you think a win is coming without ever quite delivering one.

At its best distance of a mile and an eighth to a mile and a quarter, Miletus has won 1 from 9 races, an 11% win rate that, while not eye-catching, represents its strongest ground. Keane has always believed a step up to that longer trip would bring out more, pointing to the horse's breeding — its mother was by the legendary Galileo — as a reason to think stamina is its friend. Whether that has fully translated on the track is another matter. At the level Miletus typically competes at, it has yet to win from seven attempts, which is the hardest number to overlook.

Keane's yard at Newmarket has sent out just one winner this season, so this is not a stable firing on all cylinders right now. But Miletus raced just yesterday and remains active, which at least confirms the team still believes there is a race to be won somewhere. The hope is that the right combination of trip, conditions, and a bit of fortune finally brings that second career win. For now, Miletus is very much a horse of almost — promising enough to keep running, stubborn enough not to let you forget that Windsor afternoon two years ago.