Qilin Queen

The numbers tell a story of a horse still finding her level. Two wins from nine races is hardly dominant, but those wins have come at the top of the ladder: she wins roughly one in every five races at Class 1 level (1 win from 5 attempts). What matters more is the trajectory. She raced just fourteen months ago and her trainer Ed Walker, based in Upper Lambourn with a yard that has sent out 76 winners this season, has big plans. Walker is considering starting her in the Nottinghamshire Oaks this year, or matching her against American Gal in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket — both races that sit well above where she has competed before. He notes she handles fast, dry ground well, breaks smartly from the stalls, and has the athleticism to improve. If she cannot find competitive form at the highest level in Britain, Walker is even prepared to ship her to race on grass in America.

Qilin Queen's recent form has been erratic (5-7-4-8-1-3 over her last six races), but that last run at Newbury suggests she is settling into her own rhythm. She was "buzzy" in the preliminaries — a touch of nerves perhaps — yet still delivered when it mattered. Walker described her as very game and athletic. At four years old, she is still learning where she belongs, but a horse with two wins at the sport's highest domestic level is never far from relevance.