Call To Action

The Easterby yard, based near York, is one of the sharpest operations in the north, and they have sent out 55 winners already this season—a sign they know how to place their horses right. Call To Action's recent record bears that out. A win at Beverley just this week, on 16 September, came after a second-place finish on 9 September, suggesting the yard has found the horse's level and is backing it when conditions suit. The horse clearly has a preference for normal ground: it has won two of its six races on these conditions, a 33 percent win rate that sits well above its overall figure. On the faster, drier ground that comes later in the season, Call To Action seems less inclined to fire, a typical profile for horses that need a bit of cut underfoot to get their engines running.

Most tellingly, when stepped up to Class 4 races—proper, competitive company—Call To Action has won one of three, suggesting it can handle a step up when the yard thinks it is ready. That is the working horse's story: nothing flashy, no million-pound dreams, but a five-year-old that has already paid its way and continues to do so. The fact that it raced just yesterday and is still active keeps it in that dependable, hardworking category. Call To Action will likely spend its career picking up these smaller races and the occasional nice payday, exactly the role many racehorses are bred for.