Telemark

The horse is much more reliable on lower-level races than at the top. When Telemark steps up to Class 2 company, he wins only one of every thirteen attempts (just 1 win from 13 races), which is a real struggle at that level. His best win came in September 2024 at Doncaster in a Class 2 race, and he is trained by the Crisford brothers at Newmarket, a yard that has sent out 85 winners this season alone. Yet at Meydan, a completely different story emerges. He has won two of his three races there, most recently eight weeks ago, and that is where he genuinely thrives as a course specialist.

What is genuinely odd about Telemark is how ground conditions do not seem to matter. He wins at exactly the same rate on wet or muddy ground as he does on fast, dry ground — two wins from four races in each case, a 50% win rate. That is unusual; most horses have a clear preference. His recent form shows two wins in his last six races, with two other finishes in the top 3, so he remains in work and active. Jack Mitchell, his regular jockey, has ridden him nine times and won twice, matching the horse's overall win rate. There is nothing spectacular here, but Telemark is a horse that seems to know himself — a bit ordinary at the top level, genuinely useful at home, and exceptionally dangerous at Meydan.