Flora Of Bermuda

What makes her genuinely interesting is her record at York. She has won twice from five races there, meaning she wins roughly 1 in every 2.5 times she runs at that track. That is the sort of pattern that racing people notice. Her Class 1 win at York in July 2024 showed she can beat the very best, though it is worth noting that her overall record in top races sits at just 1 win from 14 attempts — she belongs at this level and can win, but she is not a serial champion. It is the inconsistency that defines her: capable of a big-race victory, then needing several runs to get back into the winner's circle.

She is trained by Andrew Balding at Kingsclere, a yard that has sent out 202 winners already this season, so Flora Of Bermuda is in smart hands. Oisin Murphy rides her most often but has partnered her to just one win from ten races together, suggesting the pair have not quite clicked in the way that would transform her into a consistent force. Still, at five years old and still active — she raced just a day ago — she remains a work in progress and a horse capable of rewarding patient followers with a big-race day.