Holly Mist

At four years old, she has time on her side, and the short 32-day break since her last race looks like a routine freshener rather than anything to worry about. Trainers often give horses a few weeks off to recharge between runs, and Roger Varian's yard is not in the habit of running horses without a plan.

That yard is well worth paying attention to. Based in Newmarket — the heartbeat of British flat racing — Varian has sent out 86 winners already this season, which is the kind of output that marks out one of the most productive operations in the country. A trainer firing at that volume does not keep a horse in training out of sentiment. Holly Mist is clearly considered capable of winning races, and when she does break through, she will be doing it with one of the best teams in the business behind her.