Epic Poet

Across his career, Epic Poet has won 2 races from 17, winning roughly 1 in every 8 — modest on paper, but that number undersells how well he performs when the conditions suit him. Over distances between a mile and six furlongs and two miles, he has won 2 from 8 races, a 25% win rate, or one in every four. That is a meaningful difference. He is not a horse you want to see running in the wrong race over the wrong trip — but get him over a good distance on fast, dry ground, and he becomes a serious proposition. O'Meara notes he is remarkably relaxed in his races, which helps him stay on strongly, and that his versatility over distance makes him easy to place.

His regular partner in the saddle is Daniel Tudhope, who has ridden him in 14 of his 17 races and partnered him to both career wins — a 14% win rate, or 2 wins from every 14 rides together. That kind of continuity matters. Tudhope knows this horse, and Epic Poet clearly performs with him in the plate. The pair landed a Class 2 race at Haydock Park in September 2024, one of the top tier of races in Britain, which showed Epic Poet can compete at a serious level on home soil.

The plan for this summer is deliberately light. O'Meara is running him sparingly in Britain — the Yorkshire Cup has been mentioned as a target — while keeping him fresh for another Middle Eastern campaign next winter. The yard, based in North Yorkshire, has sent out 102 winners this season alone, so Epic Poet is in professional hands. At seven, he is not getting younger, but winter racing in the Gulf clearly suits him and gives him a stage where he can perform. The goal is simple: keep him happy and healthy at home, then send him back to where he won a fortune.