Zabriskie Point

His two wins came in a purple patch during his younger days — first at Leicester in May 2023, then at Thirsk in September of the same year. That Thirsk win arrived under some uncertainty. Jockey William Buick was candid afterwards, noting that the wet, testing ground was an unknown quantity for the horse that day, and that he seemed to put up with the conditions rather than thrive in them. The implication was clear: catch him on fast, dry ground and you might be seeing a better horse altogether. Buick's view was that Zabriskie Point is probably better suited to a quick surface — something worth filing away.

McGuinness has spoken warmly about him, describing a horse that enjoys his work and did himself no disgrace when pitched into a Group 3 at Newmarket — one of the top races in Britain — as a young horse. That kind of assignment tells you the yard thought they had something worth testing at the highest level. He has run four times in Class 2 company, the second tier of British racing, without winning any of them, which suggests the ceiling has been found. His best figures come over sprint trips of five to six and a half furlongs, where he has won 1 from 5 races — a 20% win rate, or roughly 1 in every 5, which is meaningfully better than his overall record.

What makes Zabriskie Point worth a second look right now is simple: he raced just one day ago, which means he is fit, active, and firmly in his trainer's plans. McGuinness's yard has sent out 45 winners already this season, so this is not an operation that runs horses for the sake of it. His last six results — a mix of places, mid-division finishes, and one sharp return to form with a second — show a horse still competitive enough to threaten on his day. The win has been missing for 33 months. But on the right ground, over the right trip, it might not stay missing forever.