Carmers

His season started at Ballinrobe in May 2025 and escalated quickly. Within weeks he was at Ascot on 18 June 2025, winning one of the top races in Britain — a Class 1 — and doing it in a way that turned heads. Twomey had planned for this race all along, and his post-race words were telling: he knew Carmers would stay the distance, he knew his jockey Billy Lee had him travelling comfortably around the bottom bend, and when the bell rang he liked what he saw. "I think staying is his game," Twomey said, "and he's a pretty good horse." That is not a trainer getting carried away. That is a trainer who knows exactly what he has.

A large part of that relationship involves W J Lee, who has ridden Carmers in 5 of his 8 races and won 3 of them — a 60% win rate together, which tells you the pairing has developed a genuine understanding. The trainer's notes hint at why that matters: Carmers wears headgear because he does only what he has to, is a horse who keeps plenty to himself, and probably does not want to be in front too long. Managing that kind of character takes trust on both sides.

One detail that stands out is his record on normal ground: three races, three wins, 100%. Every single time conditions have been standard, he has won. Twomey's yard has sent out 35 winners this season, so this is a busy, well-organised operation — and Carmers looks like one of its best assets. He raced just one day ago and is still active, with entries reportedly being considered for the St Leger at Doncaster, one of the most prestigious long-distance races in Britain. For a horse whose trainer believes staying is genuinely his game, that would be a natural next chapter.