Zitkala Sa

What makes the picture slightly more complicated is context. Kevin Thomas Coleman, who trains Zitkala Sa out of Carrick-on-Suir in County Tipperary, has sent out 10 winners already this season — so the yard is clearly functioning well and knows how to get a horse ready to perform. That suggests Zitkala Sa's results so far are more about the horse than the preparation. A 10th-place finish on debut is fairly unremarkable for a young horse learning the ropes, and back-to-back 6th places show at least some improvement in consistency, even if the winners' enclosure still feels a long way off.

She ran just yesterday, which means she is very much in active campaign. Coleman and the team are keeping her busy, and with 3-year-olds there is always the possibility that something clicks as the season progresses. But right now, Zitkala Sa is a horse with work to do.