Diamond Necklace

Both wins came at top Irish tracks — first at The Curragh in August, then at Leopardstown in September — which tells you this isn't a horse that has been winning on quiet afternoons against weak competition. These are the kinds of venues where decent horses go to prove themselves, and Diamond Necklace passed both tests without a blemish. Winning your first two races as a three-year-old at those tracks is the sort of start that makes people pay attention.

Behind her is one of the most powerful operations in European racing. Aidan P O'Brien trains out of Cashel in County Tipperary, and his yard has sent out 145 winners already this season — a number that speaks for itself. When a stable of that size and quality keeps a horse unbeaten, it tends to mean something. They have seen enough talent come through the yard to know which horses are worth protecting and which are ready for bigger challenges.

The one question mark is time. Diamond Necklace hasn't raced in roughly six months, with her last run coming back in September. Absences like that are not always a cause for concern — horses are often given a winter break to mature and strengthen — but it does mean her comeback run will be watched closely. Can she pick up exactly where she left off? That is what everyone will want to find out. If she can, a horse with a perfect record, a powerful trainer, and two wins on two of Ireland's best tracks could be set for a very interesting season ahead.