West Of Eden

What does add genuine intrigue is who is doing the training. Aidan O'Brien's operation at Cashel in County Tipperary is one of the most powerful yards in the world, and this season alone it has sent out 144 winners — a number that speaks to an almost industrial level of excellence. When a horse comes out of that stable, it arrives with serious infrastructure behind it: world-class facilities, elite jockeys, and a team that knows exactly how to place a young horse to bring out its best. The fact that West Of Eden raced just one day ago means this story is very much still being written.

For now, the record is what it is — no wins from two attempts — but for a two-year-old in one of the sport's premier yards, that really is no cause for alarm. The interesting question is simply what comes next.