Venosa

The three-year-old has finished third, fifth, sixth, and fourth across her four races to date, never quite getting her nose in front but never disgracing herself either. That placing — a third — is the brightest moment so far, a sign that she can get competitive, even if the winner's enclosure has remained out of reach.

What makes Venosa worth watching is who is sending her out. Aidan P O'Brien's operation in Cashel, Co Tipperary is one of the most formidable yards in the world, and this season alone they have produced 145 winners — that is not a yard that runs horses for fun or sends out moderate animals to fill fields. When a horse from this stable has had time, care, and four races of experience put into it, the assumption has to be that the team believe there is more to come. A five-month break at this stage of a three-year-old's career is not unusual — horses develop, plans change, and sometimes they simply need time to mature physically and mentally.

Venosa has not won yet, and that is a simple fact. But being placed from a yard of this calibre, at three years old, with her best racing almost certainly still ahead of her, means writing her off would be premature. The question is whether the break has done what the team are hoping — and her next run will tell us a great deal.