Emirates Express

That said, context matters here. Two-year-olds are essentially teenagers being asked to perform under pressure in a noisy, crowded environment, often for the first time in their lives. Finishing mid-to-back-of-field at this stage is not unusual, and plenty of horses that stumble through their early races go on to find their level once they develop physically and mentally. Emirates Express raced just yesterday, so whatever happened is very fresh — the team will be poring over that run closely.

The trainer, Jack Morland, is based in Newmarket, which is about as prestigious an address as you can have in British racing — the town is essentially the sport's headquarters, home to some of the most respected yards in the country. Morland's stable has sent out 14 winners this season, which shows there is plenty of ability in the yard. The question is whether Emirates Express can eventually join that list, or whether it needs time to grow into a horse that can compete. For now, it is a work in progress — and in racing, that is not a crime.