Aphrodite Spirit

Her recent form shows inconsistency. In her last six outings, she has finished second three times and third twice, with that single win sandwiched in between. A horse that places regularly but wins sparingly can feel frustrating to watch, yet it also tells you she is capable of running well on her day. Trainer Roger Teal describes her as "quite lazy in her work," the kind of horse that does not always show her hand in the stable. The real test comes on race day, when suddenly a different horse appears at the track. Teal's yard at Lambourn has sent out 22 winners already this season, suggesting he has the knack of getting horses ready for their moment.

The fact that Aphrodite Spirit won at Lingfield a year ago and has not broken through since suggests she may need the right conditions and the right distance to win again. She is still only a 4-year-old with time to improve, and at a yard that clearly knows how to find winners, there is reason to think better days could be ahead—if the step up to those middle-distance races is where she is truly meant to run.