Jakajaro

The numbers back up the sense of momentum. Jakajaro has won 2 of his last 6 races, a substantial improvement on his career record of roughly 1 win in every 8 races. His recent form shows he has been running hard consistently, placing in three of those six outings. He has typically struggled in top-level company — he has never won at Class 2, failing across 8 attempts — but that York victory suggests he may finally be ready. With Luke McAteer, his regular jockey, he has a 15% win rate, considerably better than his overall record, which speaks to the strength of that partnership.

Cowell, who trains from Newmarket and has sent out 24 winners this season, clearly sees opportunities ahead. Jakajaro was entered in the King Charles III, one of the year's big races, though the trainer favoured a run in the Temple Stakes the following Saturday with softer or normal ground conditions. The next chapter will tell whether his recent form represents genuine improvement or a brief flash of brilliance. After three months without a win, Jakajaro raced again just yesterday, which means he remains an active, competitive horse — and very much a work in progress.