Superposition

Across 20 races, Superposition has won 3 times and finished in the places 7 more times — roughly 1 win in every 6 or 7 races, with 10 of those 20 outings ending with a trophy or a cheque. That is a respectable record, though it tells only part of the story. The more revealing number is at the top level: zero wins from six attempts in Class 2 races, which are among the best races in Britain. Superposition has been competitive enough to keep getting entered there, but has yet to crack it. Dunlop's plan is to build the horse's confidence by progressing through the ranks rather than throwing it repeatedly at the hardest walls.

The recent form is genuinely exciting. After a couple of poor runs — finishing 12th and 9th — something clicked. The horse won at Newmarket eight weeks ago, with jockey Jack Callan riding what Dunlop called a lovely race. That Newmarket win clearly made an impression, because Dunlop mentioned the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot as a possible target — one of the most prestigious flat races in the calendar. The fact that a top trainer is even thinking about Ascot tells you the horse's ceiling may be higher than its record suggests. Dunlop also notes it has got a little bit quicker, it moves beautifully, and it has stayed sound throughout — the kind of details that quietly matter a great deal.

With 39 winners sent out by the Dunlop yard this season alone, this is a team in good form, and Superposition looks like one of the horses they genuinely believe in. Look at the most recent three runs — a win, a second, and a third — and you have a horse that has found its feet and looks to be building towards something.