Yesnia

What keeps the door open is her age and the fact she is still very much in training. She ran just one day ago, so the team around her is clearly active and looking for the right opportunity. At three years old, there is still time for things to click — horses at this stage of their development can improve significantly as they mature physically and learn how to race. None of that is guaranteed, of course, but it does mean the current record is not necessarily the final word.

She is trained by Declan Carroll, who operates out of Malton in North Yorkshire — a town with a long and serious history in British racing. Carroll's yard has sent out 22 winners this season, which shows this is a stable that knows how to get horses winning. The fact that Yesnia has not yet managed it is not for lack of professional support. Whether she eventually rewards their patience remains the question worth watching.