Stem

His breakthrough came on 21 September 2024 at Newbury, a moment his owner was waiting for after months of patience. The plan had always been to let Stem mature rather than rush him, and that caution paid off—jockey Ryan jumped straight on the chance to test him over a mile, and Stem responded. The owner notes that Ryan has always believed Stem would eventually suit a distance beyond a mile, which proved prescient when Stem won again on 04 July 2026 at Sandown Park. That victory was eight weeks ago, and recent form shows he is still racing actively, though without a win in his last six outings.

The picture Hannon paints is of a horse who needs specific conditions to shine. On soft, muddy ground he has a genuine turn of foot and can accelerate when it matters. On fast, dry ground he has sometimes looked a little flat-footed, as happened in the Spring Cup where he got caught without momentum over a mile on quick ground. The trainer believes he will continue to improve as a four-year-old, hinting that Stem's best races may still be ahead. With a yard sending out 118 winners this season, Hannon clearly knows how to get horses to peak at the right moment—Stem looks like he might be waiting for his.