Tropical Image
Tropical Image is a 9-year-old horse that has found winning in racing deeply difficult. Across 21 races, it has managed just one victory — a win at Listowel on 26 September 2025 — and added five placings to that solitary success. That single win translates to a 5% win rate, meaning the horse finishes in the placings roughly once every four races but almost never crosses the line first. The fact that a full year has passed since that sole career win tells the real story: Tropical Image is a horse that has not found the winner's circle since September 2024, despite continuing to race regularly under trainer
Eoin Christopher McCarthy's care at Athea, in County Limerick.
Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
The horse's recent form underlines the struggle. In its last six outings, Tropical Image has produced a run of seventh, third, fifth, second, sixth, and seventh placings — a reminder that even when it occasionally gets close, like that third-place finish two races back, the wins simply are not coming. Its regular rider, G B Noonan, has mounted the horse six times without a victory, which speaks to the broader challenge: this is a horse that the yard knows well, yet consistency remains out of reach. McCarthy's stable has sent out 15 winners this season, so the yard is functioning well, but Tropical Image remains the exception rather than the rule. At nine years old and still racing, this is a horse running on hope rather than habit — a genuine trier that has earned a few placings but has not delivered the breakthrough its the yard surely wanted to see again after that single Listowel success.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good_to_yielding ground: 1 wins from 6 starts (17%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on good ground: 0 wins from 8 starts
⚠ Yet to win at Killarney in 5 attempts
⚠ Yet to win at Limerick in 5 attempts
⚠ Struggles on RH Sharp tracks: 0 wins from 5 starts
⚠ Struggles on RH Galloping tracks: 0 wins from 5 starts
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good to yielding (mild give)
Loves
Soft to heavy (wet)
Unknown
Good to firm (fairly firm)
Unknown
Yielding (slightly soft)
Unknown
Yielding to soft (damp)
Unknown
Good (a little give)
Avoids
📏 Race distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Likes
🏟 Track shape
Left-handed, tight turns
Loves
Right-handed, tight
Unknown
Right-handed, tight turns
Avoids
Right-handed, long straights
Avoids
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
26 Sep
7th
Listowel
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 21 runners
20 Aug
3rd
Killarney
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 13 runners
17 Jul
5th
Killarney
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 18 runners
1 Jun
2nd
Listowel
Long Distance (2m+) · Yielding · 7 runners
11 May
6th
Killarney
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 18 runners
29 Dec
7th
Limerick
Long Distance (2m+) · Soft_To_Heavy · 16 runners
18 Nov
DNF
Limerick
Long Distance (2m+) · Heavy · 14 runners
24 Oct
6th
Sligo
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 11 runners
26 Sep
🏆 Won
Listowel
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 19 runners
23 Aug
3rd
Killarney
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 15 runners
🏇 Jockeys
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, most rides first
🏟 Course record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|
| Killarney Sharp |
5 |
2 thirds, 3 other |
20 Aug |
0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
5 |
5 other |
29 Dec |
0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
4 |
1 win, 1 second, 2 other |
26 Sep |
25% |
| Sligo Sharp |
4 |
1 second, 3 other |
24 Oct |
0% |
| Galway Tight |
1 |
1 other |
29 Oct |
0% |
| Ballinrobe Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
23 Jul |
0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
1 |
1 other |
16 Jun |
0% |