Wendrock

What makes Wendrock interesting, however, is not his win rate but where he is being asked to run. He's trained by Gordon Elliott, one of the biggest yards in Ireland, a stable that has sent out 210 winners this season alone. That Elliott keeps running a horse with Wendrock's record suggests he sees something worth persisting with. The trainer has noted that in a recent top-level race at Leopardstown, where Wendrock finished seventh of eight, he "ran better than his finishing position suggests" — a common refrain about horses that make their move too early and fade. Elliott has even suggested Wendrock could be a contender for better races down the line, which hints at patience and a longer view than the bare statistics would imply. For now, though, Wendrock remains a project rather than a performer.