Dora Vita

Trained by Richard Phillips out of his yard in Adlestrop, Gloucestershire, the three-year-old is still young and theoretically with time on her side. Phillips has sent out three winners from his stable this season, so the operation is clearly capable of getting horses to the winner's enclosure — Dora Vita just hasn't been the one to do it yet. Whether a drop in class, a different track, or simply more experience will unlock improvement remains to be seen. She raced as recently as yesterday, so the yard — the team — are clearly persevering and keeping her active, which at least suggests belief that progress is possible.

For now, her record is what it is: seven attempts and nothing to show for it. Patience is a virtue in horse racing, and at three years old the book is not yet closed on Dora Vita.