Spicy Marg

Her record at Newmarket is the first thing that catches the eye. Two wins from five races there, and it's where her whole story began — a first career win on 4 May 2025, followed by a Class 1 success at the same track on 31 October. That's the highest grade of race in Britain, and she handled it. Trainer Michael Bell, whose yard at Newmarket has sent out 45 winners this season, was already singling her out as his pick during a stable tour back in June. He described her as one of the top-rated two-year-old fillies in Britain and spoke about "saving their powder" — deliberately avoiding softer targets to keep her fresh for the big days. That's a team backing their horse's ability with patience, not just throwing her at races to rack up wins.

What makes her recent form interesting is the story behind the bumps in the road. A 17th-place finish sits in her recent record, but Bell has been candid about the legitimate reasons for the setbacks. She came into season on the morning of a major race at Royal Ascot, ruling her out entirely. In another run she jumped too keenly, used up her energy too early, and didn't last the distance. These aren't excuses — they're explanations, and they matter. When the conditions have been right, she's looked like a different horse entirely.

She thrives on normal ground, winning 2 of her 3 races on a standard surface — that's 67%, or two out of every three attempts in those conditions. Bell has noted that very wet or muddy ground would be an unknown for her, which is worth remembering when entries are announced. Her partnership with jockey Kieran Shoemark is also worth watching: together they've won 2 of their 5 races, a 40% record that suggests the horse runs her best races with someone who knows her well in the saddle.

After her Newmarket win last October, Bell mentioned the Nell Gwyn Stakes in spring as a potential next target — a recognised stepping stone toward the Guineas. This is a horse being aimed at big races by a trainer who clearly believes she belongs there, and so far, she's done little to prove him wrong.