Gateau De Miel

His most recent win came at Stratford-on-Avon just five weeks ago, and before that his first career win was at Fairyhouse back in November 2022. That Fairyhouse victory was notable for a couple of reasons. Trainer Fergal O'Brien had been worried about the ground conditions — they were softer than ideal — but the horse handled them better than expected. O'Brien had run him on faster ground previously and the horse had come back sore, suggesting that a bit of ease underfoot actually suits him. Getting the conditions right made all the difference, and the win itself was described as genuinely impressive.

Rachael Blackmore has ridden him five times, winning once — a 20% win rate together, or 1 win from every 5 races they've shared. That's a decent return in a partnership, and her post-race assessment after Fairyhouse backed up what the trainer was seeing: the horse was travelling well and jumping cleanly. Jockey Darragh O'Keeffe, who rode him at Downpatrick, noted how much he enjoyed being out in front and that there might be more to come from him — which is an encouraging sign for a horse his age.

O'Brien's yard has sent out 90 winners this season, which is a substantial operation by any measure — that kind of volume means horses tend to be placed in races that suit them, not just entered to make up numbers. Gateau De Miel typically competes at Class 4 level, one of the mid-tier grades of racing, and has won 1 from 3 at that level — a 33% win rate, or 1 in every 3 races. For a horse that has taken 24 races to accumulate three wins overall, that conversion rate at his preferred level stands out. He raced just yesterday, so his season is very much ongoing.