Malbas

The win record — 3 from 28, roughly 1 in every 9 races — is modest, but the 8 places alongside those wins mean Malbas has given its the yard something to cheer on more than a third of all outings. The most recent victory came at Kilbeggan on 1 June 2025, thirteen months ago now, and the current run of six races without a win will not be lost on the team. The last six have thrown up a second place and a ninth, but also a couple of blank runs, so there is work to do to rediscover that winning thread.

What stands out in the record is the partnership with jockey Kieren Buckley. In seven races together they have won twice — a win rate of 29%, or almost 1 in every 3 rides. That is a dramatically better return than Malbas achieves with anyone else, and it suggests the pair have a real understanding. When Kieren Buckley is in the saddle, this is a noticeably different proposition. The horse's career began with a win at Killarney back in October 2021, and it has now been competing for the best part of four years — a reliable, honest performer that knows its job.

At ten, Malbas is not going to reinvent itself, but that is not really the point. This is a horse that races regularly, competes genuinely, and in the right hands wins roughly once every nine outings. With the Buckley combination, those odds shorten considerably. The yard will be hoping that partnership comes together again soon.