Statuario

Trained by Mickey Bowen out of a small yard in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire — a yard that has sent out 52 winners this season, so clearly no shortage of ability there — Statuario has become a reliable big-day performer at a level that matters. He has won three Class 2 races at Perth, which are among the better races in Britain, and his most recent victory there came just three months ago. His usual partner in the saddle is Sean Bowen, and together they have won 4 from 15 races, roughly 1 in every 4 — a strong partnership by any measure.

What makes Statuario even more interesting at 11 years old is that the team around him clearly have ambitions rather than memories. The trainer has spoken openly about targeting the Perth Gold Cup again, describing the horse as being as good as ever. There has also been excitement about his stamina — the yard were surprised to discover just how far he stays, and that revelation has opened up new races, with the Summer Plate now mentioned as a realistic target. An 11-year-old unlocking new distances is not something you see every day.

His recent form reads two wins from his last six races, with some quieter runs in between — but that is nothing unusual for a horse campaigned patiently toward specific targets. Statuario is not a horse chasing quantity. He is a horse built around one track, one big occasion, and a team that knows exactly how to get the best out of him. At an age when many racehorses have long since retired, he is still winning Class 2 races and being aimed at the highlights of the summer calendar. That is the kind of longevity that earns genuine affection.