Blue Celestial

The recent form makes for interesting reading. In the last six races, Blue Celestial has finished 7th, 3rd, 2nd, 4th, 3rd, and most recently 6th — reading those in order from oldest to newest, there's a frustrating dip at both ends with a promising middle run that includes a runner-up finish. That second place will be the one that stings most: close enough to almost touch it, but still nothing to show for it in the winner's circle. Whether the horse is lacking a finishing kick, or simply keeps running into something better on the day, the pattern of places without wins is one that trainers and owners will be eager to break.

The trainer is James Tate, one of the sharper operators based out of Newmarket — the spiritual home of British flat racing. His yard has been in fine form this season, sending out 51 winners, which speaks to an operation that clearly knows how to get horses ready to perform. The fact that Blue Celestial hasn't yet broken through isn't for lack of professional support. If anything, being trained by someone with Tate's record means the horse has every opportunity — it just needs to take it.

Blue Celestial raced just yesterday, which means the yard are keeping this horse busy and active, clearly on the hunt for the right opportunity to get off the mark. At 3 years old, there's still time, and a trainer firing out 51 winners in a season is exactly the kind of person you want in your corner when you're still searching for that first win.