Shaman Champion

The horse shows a clear preference for sprint distances between five and six and a half furlongs, where he has won 1 of 5 races—a 20 percent win rate that stands in sharp contrast to his overall record. It is precisely at those shorter trips where he found his maiden win at Leicester, and trainer Clive Cox's yard at Lambourn, which has already sent out 48 winners this season, seems to believe there is more to come. Cox was upbeat about the horse after his debut success, suggesting he expected Shaman Champion to run well in top company. However, when stepped up to Class 2 races—among Britain's best—the horse has been outmatched, posting zero wins from three attempts at that level. The gap between sprinting at a modest track and competing in top-class company has proven too wide so far. At three years old, Shaman Champion remains a work in progress, one who may yet find his level and add to his single career win if kept at the distances and competitions where he has shown his best form.