Qila

The horse has won just once in nine races so far, a modest record on paper, but the real story is in those five top-3 finishes in a row before the win. That kind of pattern — racing close to the prizes race after race, then finally getting the job done — shows a horse that is genuinely improving and has learned how to finish races competitively. Newcastle clearly suits him; it is where he won, and that is useful information moving forward. Brian Ellison's Norton yard has been in excellent form this season with 43 winners to date, so Qila is in a stable that knows how to get the best out of its horses. At three, there is every reason to think there are more wins ahead.