In the last 20 years or so we’ve grown used to seeing German horses win many of the world’s top middle distance races despite the fact there are only about a quarter as many German racehorses as British. Now it looks like a country that has just a third of Germany’s racehorses could be on the verge of producing a British classic winner.

The top Spanish horse Noozhoh Canarias (38) has just romped home in a listed race over seven furlongs on his seasonal debut at La Zarzuela.