The standout story of his yard is his partnership with Esperti. Five wins from 25 races together makes Esperti something of a flagship horse for Rees — a reliable performer who has delivered a quarter of all the wins the yard has managed in its entire existence. When a trainer and horse click like this, it tells you something about how well the team understands what that horse needs: when to run it, where to run it, and how to keep it performing. That record is worth paying attention to.
The one puzzle in Rees's numbers is his most-used partnership with jockey Shane Fenelon. Twelve rides together and no wins at all is a curious stat — not necessarily anyone's fault, since horses, timing, and race conditions all play a part, but it does stand out against the backdrop of a yard that is otherwise trending upward. Whether Rees looks to mix things up in the saddle going forward will be one of the more interesting questions hanging over the next few months.
Still only four years in, Rees is at the stage where the foundations are being laid. The improvement from 7% to 15% is not a fluke of one lucky week — it is spread across a full season of 34 runners, which gives it real weight. If he can keep that curve going, and if Esperti stays in form, this is a small yard that is quietly becoming one worth watching.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| Newton Abbot | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| Ffos Las | 6 | 2 | 33.3% |
| Stratford-on-Avon | 3 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Fakenham | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Newcastle | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Fontwell Park | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Huntingdon | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Leicester | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Southwell | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Chepstow | 1 | 0 | 0% |