Kartini

Trained by Simon Whitaker at his yard in Scarcroft, West Yorkshire, Kartini tends to compete at Class 5 — the lower end of the racing pyramid, where the fields are competitive and margins between horses are often tight. Whitaker's yard has sent out four winners already this season, so the operation is in decent form, and a first win for Kartini feels like a question of when rather than if.

The recent form figures — 3-4-4-9-2-6, reading from earliest to most recent — tell an interesting story. That third place at the start of the sequence and a runner-up finish a couple of runs later show Kartini can perform. The ninth-place finish in between looks like an off day, which every horse has. Racing just yesterday, Kartini is clearly being kept busy and is right in the middle of an active campaign — the team obviously believe there is a win in this horse.

With zero wins from six races, patience is required. But two places from six runs means Kartini has genuinely troubled the judge on a third of its outings, which is not nothing. For a yard sending out winners this season and a horse clearly fit and racing regularly, the pieces are in place. The longer the wait, the sweeter it will be when it finally arrives.