High Calibre

That said, the training operation behind this horse is hard to ignore. Richard Hannon's yard at Herridge in Wiltshire has sent out 118 winners this season alone — a remarkable output that tells you this is one of the busiest and most effective stables in the country. Hannon regularly handles large strings of young horses, and two-year-olds in particular often need time and experience before the penny drops. Finishing fifth and sixth in competitive early-season races isn't necessarily a disaster; it can simply mean a young horse is learning its job.

The honest truth right now is that High Calibre remains a work in progress. Three races is a small sample, and being trained by a yard of this calibre means the infrastructure and expertise are there if the ability follows. Whether that ability arrives is the question worth watching.