Sayidah New Bay

What gives the picture a little more colour is the recent trajectory. The last two runs produced back-to-back third-place finishes, and with a race just yesterday, Sayidah New Bay is clearly a horse that is being kept busy and active. Whether those placings represent a horse finally rounding into form or simply a consistent runner that falls just short is the question the trainer will be working to answer.

That trainer is John S O'Donoghue, operating out of Curragh in County Kildare — one of the heartlands of Irish racing. The yard has sent out 7 winners already this season, so there is clearly capability in the operation. The fact that Sayidah New Bay keeps being pointed at races despite the winless record tells you the team still believes there is a win in the horse somewhere. Racing is a patient game, and yards like this one don't keep running a horse for the exercise alone.