That said, context matters here. Agnes Hathaway is only two years old, which means she is essentially a teenager being asked to compete professionally. Two-year-olds can take time to mature physically and mentally, and it is not unusual for horses of this age to run several times before the penny drops. The fact that she has raced five times already shows the team are committed to giving her experience, even if the results have not yet come.
What does work in her favour is who is doing the waiting. Michael Bell's yard in Newmarket is one of the more productive operations in Britain right now, having sent out 44 winners already this season — that is not a small number, and it reflects a stable that knows how to bring horses through and get results. Bell has been training at Newmarket for decades and has handled plenty of young horses who needed time before finding their feet. Agnes Hathaway raced just one day ago, so she is clearly fit and active, and the team are not giving up on her.
Whether she can turn things around remains to be seen, but she is in the right hands for the attempt.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 26 May | 0% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 11 May | 0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 2 Jul | 0% |
| Leicester Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 14 Jul | 0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 11 Jun | 0% |