Modern Times

The real story lies in where he wins. Over distances between 5 furlongs and 6½ furlongs, Modern Times becomes a different proposition entirely, winning 3 of 10 races at that sweet spot—a 30% win rate that stands out sharply against his overall numbers. His last victory came at Epsom Downs three weeks ago, following an earlier win at Ripon in June, suggesting he has found races he suits and is capable of stringing wins together. His most recent outing, just yesterday, resulted in seventh place, so form is mixed right now, but the recent pattern shows wins in 2 of his last 6 races—enough to keep hope alive.

What has not clicked is his record in the biggest races. Stepped up to Class 4 competition—the level just below the top tier—he has drawn a blank across 12 attempts, winning none of them. There is also a puzzle with his regular rider Andrew Mullen: they have paired nine times without a victory, suggesting either they do not quite gel or Modern Times performs better with other jockeys. Trained by James Owen at Newmarket, the yard is flying this season with 205 winners to its name, so the infrastructure is strong. Modern Times may never be a star, but at his best distance he has already proved he belongs in the winner's circle.