Alberts Bay

The recent form reads 6-3-7-3, and what stands out is the pair of third-place finishes bookending a couple of less impressive efforts. Thirds aren't wins, but they do mean Alberts Bay has been competitive on its day — close enough to the front to matter, just not close enough to collect. The sixth and seventh places in between suggest some inconsistency, which is the puzzle the team will be trying to solve.

At 9 years old with no wins on the board, time isn't exactly on Alberts Bay's side. But having raced just yesterday, this is very much an active campaign, and the trainer clearly believes there's a race to be won somewhere. Whether that belief is well-placed is the question. Two places from four races isn't a disaster, but for a horse this age still chasing that breakthrough, the window is narrowing. A win would make the story feel very different — for now, Alberts Bay remains an interesting project with something still left to prove.