Plutarch

That said, the yard behind Plutarch is anything but modest. George Boughey trains out of Newmarket — the heartland of British flat racing — and has sent out 105 winners already this season. That is a serious operation, and it matters, because horses trained by large, successful yards tend to be placed in races carefully and improved patiently. The fact that Plutarch is still racing, most recently just yesterday, suggests the team believe there is more to come.

Whether that improvement arrives soon is the question. A fourth place does at least hint that Plutarch can get competitive; it just has not been able to see a race out to a winning finish yet. For a horse with a blank scorecard after four attempts, the next run will be telling.