Audience

The overall numbers tell an interesting story. From 29 races, Audience has won 5 and placed 16 times — a win rate of roughly 1 in every 6 races (17%), but with a place in more than half of all its outings. That means it is almost never out of contention. It just does not always find the extra gear to win. Where it does find that gear, though, is on normal ground conditions, where it has won 4 from 13 races — almost 1 in every 3. That is a meaningful difference, and worth keeping in mind.

Newmarket is clearly a track that suits it. Two wins from six races there, including a Class 1 in July 2023, is the kind of record that makes you take notice. Some horses simply travel better to certain venues, and Audience at Newmarket is a combination worth watching when the entries come around.

The partnership with jockey Robert Havlin deserves a mention too. In 21 races together, they have won 5 — that is nearly 1 in every 4, a win rate of 24%. That is well above the horse's overall average, which strongly suggests Havlin reads this horse well and gets the best out of it.

The honest caveat is that Audience has not won in its last six races, with its most recent victory now almost two years ago at Goodwood. At seven years old and competing regularly at the very top level, it faces stiff competition every time it runs. The recent form — finishing 2nd, 9th, 13th, 11th, 12th, and 3rd in its last six outings — shows a horse that can still be competitive on its day, but one that has not quite recaptured its 2024 peak. David O'Meara's yard has been in terrific form this season with 101 winners, so the team around Audience clearly knows what they are doing. The question is whether there is one more big day left in a horse that has already had several.