Pearl River

The partnership with jockey Alec Voikhansky looks particularly promising. The pair have raced together six times, and Voikhansky has steered her to victory twice — a win rate of one win in three rides that stands well above her overall average. That kind of consistency between horse and rider often matters far more than the raw statistics suggest; it takes time to learn how a horse thinks and what it needs in a race, and Voikhansky clearly has the measure of her.

What really sets Pearl River apart is his preference for longer distances. Over races between 1 mile 6 furlongs and 2 miles, he has won 1 of 3 outings — a 33 percent win rate over that range. He seems to settle better when asked to stay, a trait that could open doors in races suited to his strengths. His first win came at Nottingham back in October 2025, but it is the recent victory at Newbury that matters most. Trainer Richard Hannon, who oversees a yard that has already sent out 118 winners this season, clearly has her on an upward curve.

One note of caution: in three attempts at the highest Class 2 level, he has yet to break through. That suggests there is still work to do before he can compete consistently at the very top. But at three, with wins already on the board and a pattern emerging — longer distances, a trusted jockey, a handler in form — Pearl River looks like a horse building something real.