The trouble is consistency. Over the last six runs, Kalir has finished fourth, fourth, third, fourth, first, and first—reading the results backwards from most recent to oldest. That is two wins sandwiched between three fourth-place finishes and a third. The horse clearly has days when everything clicks, but also races where it simply does not perform. The surprise is Chris Hayes, who has ridden Kalir five times without a single win, which is unusual given the horse's overall win rate. Hayes may yet click with the horse, or the partnership may simply not suit—either way, it is a fact worth watching as the season develops.
Weld's yard is in excellent form with 21 winners to its name already this season, so the trainer has the momentum and the resources to get the best from Kalir. The horse has raced only seven times, so there is scope for improvement with more experience. Whether Kalir becomes a regular winner or settles as a occasional bright spot will likely depend on whether it can cut out those fourth-place finishes and learn to perform more often at the level where it has already tasted success.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Curragh Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 other | 9 Aug | 50% |
| Killarney Sharp |
1 | 1 win | 15 Jul | 100% |
| Leopardstown Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 7 Aug | 0% |
| Dundalk Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 10 Apr | 0% |
| Naas Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 24 Jun | 0% |
| Gowran Park Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 5 May | 0% |