The trainer James Tate, based at Newmarket, has 51 winners to his name this season, and Star of Mali appears to be part of a productive yard. The real insight comes from understanding what this horse likes. It thrives on normal ground conditions—winning 3 of 8 races on that surface, a 38 per cent win rate that stands out sharply. Give it a firm track and the record drops; soft or muddy ground is clearly not its friend. Distance matters too. Over 7 furlongs to a mile, the horse has won 3 from 7 races, a 43 per cent win rate that suggests this is the sweet spot. Shorter or longer races seem to dull its edge.
Southwell is where the partnership between horse and course has clicked most clearly—2 wins from 5 races there, making it a genuine favourite venue. In Class 5 races, the record is modest at 1 win from 7, which hints that stepping up in grade remains a challenge, but that is not uncommon for a horse still learning its trade. What matters is that Star of Mali has momentum now, recent wins have established form, and the yard know exactly where to run it. On normal ground, over the right distance, at the right track, this horse is ready.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwell Galloping |
5 | 2 wins, 3 other | 27 Jul | 40% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
3 | 1 win, 1 second, 1 third | 2 Oct | 33.3% |
| Chepstow Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 25 Aug | 0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 5 Jul | 0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 5 Aug | 0% |
| Leicester Sharp |
1 | 1 second | 23 Jul | 0% |