Reponse Finale

The recent run of form makes for tough reading. Over the last six races, Reponse Finale has finished 5th, 6th, 13th, 17th, 8th, and 4th — and that 4th, the most recent, is actually the best of that sequence. Whether that represents a slight uptick in form or just a smaller field is hard to say, but racing just one day ago means this is a horse very much in active campaign.

The partnership with jockey Alan Casey is the defining relationship of this horse's career — they have raced together fourteen times, which is a significant chunk of those twenty outings. Fourteen races together and no wins between them is a frustrating stat for both parties, though it does suggest a loyalty and consistency from the yard that not every horse gets. Casey clearly knows this horse well. The question is whether that familiarity will eventually translate into a result, or whether the combination simply hasn't found the right opportunity yet.

At four years old, Reponse Finale still has time. Horses can take a while to find their level, and the fact the team keeps running this one — twenty times is a genuine commitment — suggests they believe there's a race to be won somewhere. The search continues.