A La Prochaine

Trainer Ralph Beckett, who runs one of the busiest yards in the south, sees real potential in her. She bred her to be better than average, and she's entered her in the Oaks, one of the most prestigious races for three-year-old horses in Britain. The plan now is to run her in a trial race first — a stepping stone to that bigger goal — but Beckett is waiting for genuinely wet or muddy ground to suit her. That may sound like a small detail, but ground preference can be the difference between a horse running to its ability or running flat. For now, she remains active and in training, with a yard behind her that has already sent out 107 winners this season. At three years old and with her form trending the right way, A La Prochaine is still very much a work in progress — but a promising one.