Aukus

What does offer some encouragement is the stable behind the horse. Ralph Beckett, operating out of Kimpton in Hampshire, has sent out 107 winners already this season — a remarkable haul that puts his yard among the most productive in the country. A trainer running at that kind of volume tends to know which horses are worth persevering with and which aren't. The fact that Aukus keeps getting a run suggests Beckett sees something worth developing.

At three years old, there is still time. Horses at this age are still maturing, still learning how to race, and a run of fifths is not necessarily a sign of a bad horse — it can simply mean a horse that hasn't yet found its ideal conditions or distance. With a trainer producing winners at the rate Beckett is this season, the infrastructure and expertise are certainly there if Aukus is going to improve.