Empire De Maulde

That one career win, though, was worth waiting for. It came at Kelso in October 2021 — one of the top races in Britain at Class 2 level — which means Empire De Maulde has beaten some decent horses in its time. Winning 1 from 4 races at that level, a 25% win rate at Class 2, is actually a respectable record at the sharp end. The problem is it hasn't happened since. That Kelso win was 54 months ago now, and the last six races have brought a third, two seconds, a fourth, and a seventh — plenty of placed efforts, but the winner's enclosure has stayed out of reach.

The recent form is quietly encouraging, though. Two consecutive second-place finishes suggest the horse is running well and has not lost its competitive edge, even at the age of 12, when many horses have long since been retired. Having raced just nine days ago, it's clearly fit and active, and the team still believe there's a race to be won. Whether it comes is another matter — but a horse that keeps finishing in the places at a decent level commands a certain respect, even without a win on the board.