Zarzyni

Musselburgh, the seaside track on the Firth of Forth just outside Edinburgh, is where Zarzyni has done his best work. Three wins from 9 races there — that's 1 in every 3 races at that track, an extraordinary ratio compared to his overall record. It was also where he announced himself properly, winning a Class 2 race in April 2022 — one of the better-quality contests you'll find in Britain. Winning a Class 2 anywhere is worth noticing. Winning your first career race at that level? That told everyone this wasn't a horse without talent, just one who needed the right conditions to show it.

Those conditions are worth understanding. Zarzyni has won 2 of his 10 races on slightly soft ground — wet underfoot but not waterlogged — which is a 20% win rate, or 1 in every 5 attempts. On other ground he barely registers. He also does his best work over the shortest distances, winning 1 from 4 races at sprints under five furlongs, suggesting he's at his most dangerous when the race is quick and sharp. Put him at Musselburgh, damp conditions, short distance — and you have a horse worth a second look.

David and Nicola Barron train him from their yard in Maunby, North Yorkshire, which has sent out 16 winners already this season, so the operation is clearly in good form. Connor Beasley is the jockey most associated with him, winning once from seven rides together — 1 in 7, or about 14%, which is actually ahead of Zarzyni's overall average. His most recent win came at Southwell in September 2025, seven months ago, and his last six runs read 9-7-8-7-1-8 — the lone win sandwiched between a lot of also-ran efforts. He raced just yesterday, so he's fit and active. He might be hard to catch most days, but when everything lines up, Zarzyni has shown he can still get the job done.