A single seventh-place finish tells you almost nothing about what a young horse might become, which is part of what makes two-year-olds so fascinating to follow. At this stage of their career, they are essentially teenagers being asked to perform in public for the first time — and plenty of horses who stumble early go on to be something special once they fill out and find their stride.
What does offer some encouragement is who is doing the educating. Ed Dunlop trains out of Newmarket in Suffolk, one of the most famous racing towns in the world, and his yard has sent out 36 winners already this season — a serious tally that speaks to a genuinely well-run operation. Dunlop has a long track record of being patient with young horses and knowing when the time is right to bring them back out. That five-month break is worth noting: this is not a horse being rushed.
Whether That Darn Cantor returns as a completely different proposition remains to be seen, but with a good trainer and youth on their side, writing them off on the basis of one race would be very premature indeed.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newmarket Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 22 Oct | 0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 8 Apr | 0% |