Sons And Lovers

His first win came at Newmarket in October 2023, where his then-trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam had expected a big run but was nervous about the fast, dry ground. The horse came through anyway, suggesting there's more to him than a horse who needs everything to go perfectly. His most recent win followed at Leopardstown in August 2025 — a result that came after a memorable performance in Saudi Arabia, where jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle had to settle a keen, buzzy horse through the early stages before giving him a clear run in the straight. Joseph O'Brien, who now trains him at his yard in Owning Hill in Co Kilkenny, was full of praise for how the partnership handled it. A yard that has sent out 154 winners this season is clearly operating at full tilt.

What stands out most now is the gap. Sons And Lovers hasn't raced in roughly six months, and his last three runs before this break read 3rd, 1st, 5th — competitive form, but uneven. O'Brien had been pointing him specifically toward the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot, describing the preparation as good and the build-up as deliberate. Whether a horse with a slightly keen streak — one who needs settling and timing — can finally convert at the top level after a long absence is the interesting question. He has the talent to be there. He just hasn't yet proved he can win when it really matters.