David J Phelan

The most striking figure in Phelan's record is his partnership with Cafe Del Mar. Seventeen races together and not a single win is a long run without reward, and it means the horse has effectively carried the entire yard's workload for a sustained stretch without delivering that breakthrough moment. For a small operation, having so much of your activity tied to one horse is both a practical reality and a reminder of how thin the margins can be at this level — one good day could change the whole picture.

There is nothing unusual about a trainer taking time to build. Some of the most respected names in the sport spent their early years quietly learning before results followed. For Phelan, the next winner — whenever it arrives — will be the one that makes all those near-misses with Cafe Del Mar feel like part of the journey.