Statuario

His recent form tells an interesting story. Three wins from his last six races — including a top-level Class 2 win at Perth just this week — is the kind of purple patch that gets people talking. The two blanks in between (an 8th and a 6th) look like days when he simply wasn't in the mood, because when he is in the mood at Perth, very little can live with him. Mickey Bowen's yard in Haverfordwest has sent out 47 winners this season alone, so Statuario is operating within a confident, in-form operation that clearly knows how to place a horse to its strengths.

The Bowen connection runs deep here. Sean Bowen, who rides for the yard, has been in the saddle for 15 of Statuario's 26 races and has won 4 of them — that's 1 win in every 3.75 rides together, which is a strong partnership. The trainer, Mickey Bowen, speaks about this horse with obvious affection. He made no secret this spring that the Perth Gold Cup is the big target, and that everything else — including a potential crack at the Topham at Aintree — is preparation for that. There's also a notable detail buried in the post-race comments: Statuario needs to race right-handed. He is not a horse you can run anywhere and expect the best from. The team have learned that lesson and have clearly built their season around it.

What makes Statuario genuinely compelling is the combination of age and consistency. Eleven years old, still winning Class 2 races, still being campaigned with a specific big-race target in mind. The trainer says you wouldn't think he's the age he is, and the form backs that up entirely. With the Summer Plate now on the agenda and the Perth Gold Cup as the ultimate aim, this old boy still has unfinished business.