Great Barrier Reef

The horse broke its maiden at The Curragh on 19 April and has since become something of a specialist there, winning two of three races at that Irish track. The Curragh clearly suits it, and that kind of course preference is worth noting — some horses simply run better on certain ground or at certain tracks, and when you've identified where yours thrives, you use that knowledge. Great Barrier Reef last won at Ascot on 16 June, though a second place in its most recent outing (just a day ago) suggests it may be finding stronger opposition as it steps up through the grades. At this level of the sport, that kind of progression is normal and expected.

The horse is trained by A P O'Brien at Cashel in County Tipperary, a yard that has already sent out 125 winners this season alone — testament to the quality of horsemanship and judgment there. O'Brien clearly knows how to develop young talent, and Great Barrier Reef's record suggests it has every tool to go further still. A two-year-old with this kind of early success and an experienced handler is something worth keeping an eye on as the season unfolds.