Puppet Master

Ciaran Murphy, his trainer at Mullingar in County Westmeath, has built a strong yard—18 winners this season—and he has clearly been patient with this one. Murphy described Puppet Master as a natural stayer, the kind of horse built for distance rather than speed, and his form over the past six races bears that out. His last outing was at Kilbeggan four weeks ago, where he won again, suggesting he has found his rhythm. The recent form line reads 3-2-1-5-5-8 (most recent first), which shows a horse who breaks through every few runs, finds the winners' circle, and then settles back into mid-field—the pattern of a horse who is reliable but needs the right race and the right conditions.

What is quietly impressive is his consistency on the track. He has raced 14 times, won 3, and placed in 6 others. That is the record of a genuine professional, not a flash in the pan. Jockey Ryan Moore, who rode him to victory at Lingfield, spoke highly of him afterwards, and earlier in his career Wayne Lordan noted that Puppet Master jumped well, travelled smoothly, and had genuine class. Those are the kind of observations people make about horses with a future. He was raced just yesterday, so he is very much active and being aimed at meaningful targets. For a 4-year-old who has conquered a top-level race, Puppet Master appears to be on an upward curve.