The Third Star

The recent run of form makes for uncomfortable reading: finishing 6th, 6th, 9th, 7th, 5th, and then 2nd in its most recent race. That second place is at least a sign of life, and it came just a day ago, meaning The Third Star is very much in active training and racing. Owen Burrows, who trains the horse from his yard in Lambourn, Berkshire, is clearly in good form this season — 30 winners sent out already — so the infrastructure around this horse is strong.

What stands out, though, is the record in the top tier of racing. The Third Star has been sent out in three of the highest-quality races in Britain and come away with nothing from any of them, a 0 from 3 record at that level. That is not necessarily a failing — those races are fiercely competitive — but it does suggest that when the bar is raised highest, this horse has yet to find an answer. The question for anyone watching is whether that near-miss second place yesterday signals a horse finally rounding into its best form, or whether it remains one that flirts with the frame without quite breaking through.