Washington Royale

Appleby's yard has been in excellent form this season, sending out 71 winners, so Washington Royale is part of a stable firing on all cylinders. The horse's most recent runs show he is still learning the game — fifth, then fifth again, then fourth before breaking his duck — but that latest run at Chepstow suggests something has clicked. At only two years old and with just four races under his belt, Washington Royale remains very much a work in progress, but his the yard will be encouraged that he has proven he belongs in the winner's circle. What comes next will tell us whether yesterday's breakthrough was the beginning of something meaningful or simply a moment on the journey most young horses take.