Princess Petrol

Her one win came at Ascot on 25 July 2025, and it arrived with a bit of theatre. She gave the handlers a moment of anxiety in the stalls — apparently not for the first time, since her trainer Ed Walker noted she likes to make everyone think she's in charge, even walking to the stables at home. But once racing, she was smart. Walker had given her a gentle, educational first run at Newbury before Ascot, and it clearly paid off. The win looked like the work of a horse learning quickly.

Since then, the picture has been a little mixed. She finished fifth on one occasion, then ran second, then came in thirteenth — though that most recent run came with an excuse attached. Walker says she was travelling well in the Fred Darling at a crucial point on the track when she was knocked sideways. That kind of interference can cost a horse its rhythm entirely, and it helps explain the headline number. He added she was a touch anxious that day, but felt the run would sharpen her up. Importantly, she's still active — she last raced just 13 days ago, and her team is already thinking about what comes next.

The plan appears to be a Listed race, which sits just below the very top tier of British racing. It's an ambitious target, but there are reasons for confidence. Walker is having a strong season — his yard has sent out 80 winners this season alone — and he clearly thinks this horse has more to offer. Her dam won the Oh So Sharp Stakes, one of the more prestigious autumn races for young fillies, and Walker has hinted that similar races are on Princess Petrol's radar. Whether she can get there will depend on whether she can recapture the form that made Ascot look so promising. The talent seems to be there. She just needs a clean run at it.