Shushu

The horse broke through with his maiden win at Great Yarmouth on 10 June, and that remains his only victory to date, three months ago now. Since then, his last four runs have been a mixed bag — a ninth place most recently, followed by a fifth, then a second, then another second. That early win created genuine hope, but he has not managed to repeat it, which is the real test for any young horse. Racing regularly at this age means he is clearly a tough competitor, and his trainer Roger Varian — who runs one of Britain's most powerful yards at Newmarket with 87 winners already this season — evidently believes there is more to come.

What makes Shushu's profile interesting is not where he has been, but the fact that he is still very much a work in progress. Three months since his last win at three years old is hardly a crisis; many horses plateau around this stage, while others simply need the right race. Yarmouth clearly suited him once. Whether he can rediscover that form, or move on to better things, will define the next chapter of his career.