Obsidian Verse

The recent form makes for honest reading. Before that Southwell victory, the horse had finished eighth, fifth, fourth, and eighth in its previous four races — not disgraced, but not threatening the winner's enclosure either. That makes the breakthrough all the more satisfying when it came. A first career win is always significant, and the fact it arrived so recently means Obsidian Verse heads into whatever comes next with genuine momentum rather than fading confidence.

What is worth watching is how the yard responds to this. James Fanshawe, who trains out of Newmarket — arguably the most competitive training base in Britain — has been in fine form this season, sending out 45 winners already. That is a serious operation, and a horse that finally clicks into gear inside such a yard tends to get opportunities. The interesting puzzle is that Obsidian Verse had failed to win in three attempts at its typical level before finding the mark at Southwell. Whether that track suits this horse particularly well, or whether the win simply reflects a horse maturing at three as so many do, is the question worth asking next time out.

At five races in, this is still a young career with plenty of pages left to write. One win, one place, and a form line that has just turned upward — there is enough here to pay attention.