Persica

The real story, though, is how Richard Hannon has learned to get the best from him. After an unsatisfying campaign last season that included a trip to Bahrain, the horse was gelded, and the change worked. A performance at Newmarket in April marked his comeback as a genuinely competitive horse again — his best race in nearly a year, according to his trainer. Since then, Persica has won at the highest level at Epsom in June and at Haydock six weeks ago. When you look at his last six runs, he has delivered two wins from six attempts, which on the face of it sounds modest, but both victories came at Class 1 level, suggesting his form is pointing upward when it matters most.

Epsom Downs matters to him especially. He has won two of three races there, and Hannon is clear that Persica loves the track. The trainer rides Moore's philosophy of keeping him at around Class 1 level — where he thrives — rather than constantly testing him in the highest races. But wins like the one at Epsom have Hannon thinking bigger: he has options including a Group 2 at Sandown or the Lockinge, depending on the ground. Persica is ground-dependent; soft or heavy conditions suit him best. Jockey Sean Levey has ridden him four times for three wins, and while Ryan Moore was in the saddle for the Epsom victory, the horse's connection with Levey hints at a stable partnership. At five years old and still active, Persica is in the prime years of his racing life, and the yard's recent form — 118 winners this season — suggests he is in a place that knows how to keep momentum going.