Beauty Queen

Her two wins came at opposite ends of the calendar — Beverley in July 2024, then Southwell in October 2024 — and that second victory is now 21 months in the past. For a 4-year-old, that gap is significant. Horses at this age are usually finding their best form, not searching for it. The fact that she raced just yesterday suggests she is fit and active, but fitness and form are not the same thing, and right now those finishing positions tell their own story.

The partnership with jockey Shane Foley has produced nothing from 6 races together, a record that raises questions about whether the combination is working. Foley is an accomplished rider, so this is not about incompetence — it is more likely that Beauty Queen simply has not performed for anyone during this stretch. Gerard O'Leary's yard in Kildare has sent out 11 winners this season, which shows the operation knows how to get horses winning. The challenge is finding the version of Beauty Queen that crossed the line first at Southwell, and doing it soon.