Willem Twee

The headline result on Willem Twee's CV is a Class 1 victory at Lingfield Park in November 2023 — that's one of the top races in Britain, the kind that separates genuine quality from horses just filling out a field. Following that up with a Class 2 win at Wolverhampton in August 2024 confirmed it wasn't a fluke. The problem is that was nearly 20 months ago, and the six races since have brought two thirds and nothing better. The wins are there in the record, but right now they feel a long way back.

One thing worth watching is the ground. On fast, dry conditions, Willem Twee has won 2 of just 3 races — a remarkable 67% record that suggests it genuinely transforms on a quick surface. The all-weather tracks effectively bypass that variable, but when dry ground comes along outdoors, this horse has repeatedly delivered. Kempton Park is another marker worth noting: 2 wins from 6 races there is the kind of course record that tells you a horse simply enjoys the place.

Regular jockey Daniel Muscutt has been aboard for 15 of its 24 races and the two clearly have an understanding — 4 wins together works out at winning roughly 1 in every 4 rides, which mirrors the horse's overall record almost exactly. Fanshawe's yard has sent out 45 winners already this season, so the operation is in fine form even if Willem Twee itself has gone quiet. A 43-day break since its last run suggests the team have had a think about where to aim it next.

Class 2 has been the horse's home for most of its career — 12 races at that level for just 1 win tells you it isn't finding life easy at the top end. But it has already shown it can win at Class 1, which means the talent is unquestionably there. The question is simply whether a refreshed Willem Twee can find its way back to the performances that earned those big-race wins in the first place.