LIMATO was Timeform’s juvenile champion male of 2014, rated 121p after an unbeaten season that saw him take a pair of six furlong listed contests in the style of a potential sprint star.

He won the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes at Ascot on his reappearance in April, lost his unbeaten record when runner-up to Adaay in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, and then confirmed his position as a leading three-year-old sprinter when chasing home Muhaarar in the inaugural Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in June. With five wins and two places from seven starts, all over six furlongs, it may have seemed that his career path was obvious, and it was no surprise to see him entered in next month’s Group 1 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes.