Navajo Point

The horse clearly prefers a specific distance. Over 1 mile 1 furlong to 1 mile 2 furlongs, Navajo Point has won 1 of his 5 races at that trip (20 per cent), which is more than double his overall win rate of roughly 1 in every 9 starts. That breakthrough victory came at that exact sweet spot — 1 mile 1 furlong at Gowran Park — and it is the kind of detail that matters when a trainer is plotting where to run next. His recent form shows some inconsistency, with a second place and a fourth finish sandwiched between some struggling efforts, but he is active and racing regularly, which keeps him sharp.

At four years old, Navajo Point is still developing. Hassett's yard has been in good form this season with ten winners to their name, so there is every reason to think the trainer knows where he fits in the grand scheme of things. The question now is whether last week's win was the start of something or a isolated success. Either way, a horse that finds his ideal distance and his ideal track — as he appears to be doing — is a horse worth following.