Santa Bravado

Trained by A Oliver, whose yard has been in fine form this season with 20 winners already on the board, Santa Bravado looks to be in good hands at the right time. A trainer firing at that rate knows how to have a horse ready, and the timing of this win — coming after three runs that suggested improvement was brewing — hints at a yard that knew what it was doing.

It is still early days for a 3-year-old, and four races is a small sample from which to draw firm conclusions. But the fact that Santa Bravado has gone from a fifth to back-to-back sevenths and then straight to the winner's enclosure suggests the pieces came together quickly once they did click. One to follow while the momentum lasts.