Spirit of Acklam

The partnership between Spirit of Acklam and jockey Joanna Mason has been the most successful chapter of the story so far. In 10 rides together, Mason has steered the horse to 3 wins—a 30 per cent win rate that stands well above the horse's overall win rate. That kind of figure doesn't happen by accident; it speaks to a real understanding between horse and rider. Mason seems to know how to get the best out of this particular animal, and those wins have come recently enough to matter.

There are two clear strengths to exploit. The horse runs best over distances between 1 mile 1 furlong and 1 mile 2 furlongs, winning 2 of 5 races at those trips—a 40 per cent win rate that is genuinely strong. Even better is the record at Ayr, where Spirit of Acklam has won 2 of 5 races. That is not luck; that is a horse that knows the track and can handle it. The last win came at Hamilton Park on 11 July, three months ago, which means the horse has not found the winner's enclosure recently despite regular racing. The yard of Michael and David Easterby, based in North Yorkshire, has saddled 55 winners this season and clearly knows how to train a consistent horse. The question now is whether Joanna Mason, a familiar and successful partner, can deliver another win and remind everyone why this horse looked so good in the summer.