Zak Wheatley(3)

The highlight of his career so far came on 22 August 2025 at York, where he won a Class 1 race — one of the top races in Britain. York is one of the most prestigious venues in the sport, a place where the best horses and riders go to be tested in front of big crowds. Winning there at the highest level, even once, is the kind of result that changes how people in the sport see you. It is his only top-level win to date, which means it stands out all the more clearly.

His most productive relationship is with trainer Declan Carroll. From 178 rides together they have won 18 times — again roughly 1 in every 10, or 10%. That is a significant volume of shared rides, suggesting Carroll trusts Wheatley enough to keep putting him up, and the results justify it. When a trainer and jockey build that kind of working rhythm, it tends to be more than coincidence. Carroll's yard clearly suits his style, and Wheatley clearly knows how to get the best out of the horses sent his way.

Away from that partnership, Wolverhampton is worth flagging. He has ridden 4 winners from just 20 runners there — 1 in every 5 — which is a noticeably higher return than his overall average. Some jockeys simply read a particular track well, whether it is the bends, the surface, or just accumulated experience, and Wolverhampton looks like it suits Wheatley's instincts. Four from twenty may sound modest in raw numbers, but doubling your usual win rate at any track tells you something.

At 22 winners this season and 78 for his career, Wheatley is not a household name yet. But a top-level win at York, a dependable partnership with an established trainer, and a track record that is quietly improving — that is a solid foundation for someone still only four years in.