Stintino Sunset

The level it operates at is the bread-and-butter end of British racing. Class 6 is the entry level of the sport, and that is where Stintino Sunset has spent almost all of its career — 39 of its 45 races have come at that grade. Within that context, its three wins feel hard-earned rather than surprising. The most recent of them came at Windsor in September 2024, now over 22 months ago, and the six races since have brought a string of places — second, third, fourth, third, third, third — without that elusive winner.

Where Stintino Sunset genuinely comes alive is on fast, dry ground. It has won 2 of its 9 races in those conditions, a win rate of 22% — wins roughly 1 in every 4 or 5 races when the sun has done its work on the track. That is a dramatically better version of the same horse. Pair that with its preferred distance of a mile and three to a mile and four furlongs — where it has won all three of its races from 19 attempts, a rate of 16% — and you have a horse with a very specific sweet spot. Get the ground right, get the trip right, and the chances improve sharply.

Jockey Dylan Hogan has been the regular partner, riding 35 of Stintino Sunset's 45 races and winning twice together. Trainer Julia and Shelley Birkett, based in Newmarket, have had 15 winners from their yard this season. Stintino Sunset raced just one day ago and is clearly still an active part of those plans — a horse that keeps turning up, keeps finishing close, and keeps making its the yard believe the next one might be the day it all clicks again.