Persica

His recent form shows genuine class. He won at Newbury five weeks ago, and in his last six races he has finished first, second, or placed three times. Sean Levey, who rides him regularly, has won four of twelve races aboard him—a win rate that tells you Persica and his jockey understand each other. His trainer Richard Hannon, who runs a powerful yard, has openly acknowledged that after some races last season didn't go to plan, the decision to have him gelded proved beneficial. Hannon's words after his Epsom victory were telling: the horse loves the track and has genuine chances whenever conditions suit him, particularly when the ground is soft or has give in it.

What strikes you about Persica is not just that he wins—it is the level at which he does so. At the top class of racing, he has won three of eight races, a conversion rate that separates genuine quality from mere solid performers. His trainer has suggested there may be bigger prizes to come, but seems equally content to follow soft ground around the tracks where Persica has shown he belongs. That kind of measured confidence, backed by results, is the hallmark of a horse worth watching.