Minnie Bear

She ran just yesterday, so she is firmly in the thick of her season. At two years old there is plenty of time ahead of her, and it is not unusual for young horses to take several races before clicking into gear. But three finishes near the back of the pack do suggest she has not yet found her stride in a competitive environment.

Adam Kirby trains her from his yard in Kirtling, on the outskirts of Newmarket — the heartland of British flat racing. Kirby is better known as one of the country's most respected jockeys, so his training operation is still relatively young, but it has sent out six winners already this season, which shows the yard is capable of getting horses ready to perform. Whether Minnie Bear can become one of those winners remains to be seen.