What makes Zucayan work is specificity. Give him normal ground conditions and a distance between a mile and six furlongs and two miles, and he becomes a different proposition: three wins from 16 races in that setup, a respectable 19 per cent success rate. Normal ground is his sweet spot; on fast, dry ground or wet, muddy surfaces, he struggles. Jockey Nick Slatter has been his most frequent partner, and when the two team up, things improve fractionally—Slatter has ridden him to three wins from 24 races together, a 12 per cent win rate. Trainer Fergal O'Brien, based at Withington in Gloucestershire, has had a strong season with 90 winners already sent out from the yard.
The concerning detail is that Zucayan has not won in his last six races. His most recent outing was just yesterday, and the run before that he finished second—neither a win nor complete failure. His last victory came at Ludlow on 11 May 2025, now 17 months in the past. At nine years old and with very few wins to his name, he is living on reputation and the occasional course form at Ludlow. For any serious punter, he is a horse to watch only when conditions align perfectly and the race is at his track.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ludlow Undulating |
10 | 3 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, 2 other | 10 May | 30% |
| Uttoxeter Sharp |
3 | 3 other | 4 Oct | 0% |
| Southwell Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 23 Jul | 0% |
| Worcester Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 24 Jul | 0% |
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
2 | 1 second, 1 other | 23 Jan | 0% |
| hereford | 2 | 1 second, 1 other | 14 Apr | 0% |
| Taunton Undulating |
2 | 1 second, 1 third | 25 Mar | 0% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 4 Oct | 0% |
| Newton Abbot Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 16 Apr | 0% |
| Stratford-on-Avon Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 25 Aug | 0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 15 Sep | 0% |
| Market Rasen Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 20 Apr | 0% |
| Ffos Las Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 16 Jun | 0% |
| Windsor Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 4 Aug | 0% |
| Bangor-on-Dee Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 22 Apr | 0% |
| Nottingham Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 23 Oct | 0% |