Dakota Power

What makes Dakota Power genuinely interesting is his clear preference for wet ground. Give him a muddy or rain-sodden track and he becomes a different horse, winning 2 of his 6 races on those conditions—a 33% win rate—compared to the 3 wins from 25 on faster surfaces. It's the kind of thing a trainer notices and plans around, and Roger Teal's Lambourn yard has clearly kept faith with him as a useful tool for wet-ground days. Teal has been in good form this season with 22 winners already, and Dakota Power remains active despite his age and recent drought.

The trouble is that he simply cannot handle top-flight racing. In 17 attempts at the highest competitive level, he has never won once. He belongs in lower-class races, and that is exactly where he stays—finishing in the top three regularly but rarely breaking through. His last six runs tell the familiar story: sixth, sixth, seventh, eighth, fourth, fifth. He was back in action just a day ago, which suggests the yard still sees something to work with. For those who love the unglamorous end of racing, Dakota Power represents the honest journeyman—a horse that keeps trying, occasionally delivers, and has carved out a modest niche through sheer consistency rather than brilliance.