Princess Petrol

Her one win arrived at Ascot on 25 July 2025, and by Walker's own account it was "really smart." She'd had an introduction at Newbury beforehand where her jockey rode her quietly and let her learn the ropes — a patient approach that paid off when she was let loose at one of Britain's most prestigious tracks. Walker noted a brief drama in the stalls before the race, but added with a smile that she's always liked to make everyone think she's in charge, even walking back to her stable. That personality seems to be part of who she is.

Her best racing happens over sprint distances — between 5 and 6 and a half furlongs — where she's won 1 from 3 races (33%), which is a solid return. Walker flagged that she was unlucky not to win the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket last year, and in her most recent race in the Fred Darling she was making a promising run on the hardest part of the track before getting knocked sideways. That's the kind of interference that can make a result look worse than the performance deserved. Walker's view is that the run has shaken off some rustiness, and the plan is to aim her at a Listed race — one step below the very top tier — to land what he calls "that all-important stakes win."

Walker himself is having a strong season, with 80 winners sent out from Upper Lambourn already. He's a trainer who takes his time with horses rather than rushing them, and the steady education Princess Petrol received early in her career looks very much like his fingerprints. She raced just one day ago, so she's very much in the thick of her season — and with a trainer confident she can win at a higher level, the next few weeks should be worth watching.