Less Destiny Star

The broader numbers are modest. One win and two places from seven races means a win rate of roughly 1 in 7, and recent form has been patchy at best — a second place being the only real highlight among a string of mid-field and poor finishes. The most recent run, 30 days ago, did not trouble the judge. When it has found its level, that tends to be in Class 5 races, the bread-and-butter tier of the sport, where it has won 1 from 4 — a 25% win rate at that level, which is actually a decent return when the competition is right.

What keeps this profile interesting is the contrast between the yard and the horse. Ben Pauling's team has sent out 86 winners this season — that is a operation that clearly knows how to get horses to the line first. The fact that Less Destiny Star has not added to its tally suggests either the right opportunity has not come along yet, or that Doncaster win in January 2024 represented something close to a career peak. Still active and still running, the question now is whether Pauling's team can find the race that brings the best out of it again.