A Different Kind

The horse announced itself in style. Bought off Derek O'Connor, it won first time out at Sedgefield by 15 lengths — the kind of debut that makes trainers smile — and McCain returned there three weeks later where it won again by ten lengths, this time carrying a penalty for its previous win. That tells you something important: some horses only look good when conditions suit them perfectly. Winning by a street while carrying extra weight suggests genuine ability. Sedgefield has remained a happy hunting ground ever since — three races, three wins — which is about as good as it gets for a course record.

The partnership with jockey Brian Hughes has been one of the most productive parts of this horse's story. In 19 races together, Hughes has ridden A Different Kind to 9 wins — that's 47%, nearly 1 in every 2 races — a chemistry that Brian Hughes himself has spoken warmly about, describing the horse as one that simply switches off and does exactly what you ask. That kind of tractable temperament is rarer than people think, and trainers value it enormously.

The one cloud on the horizon is that A Different Kind hasn't won in its last six races, and its last victory came at Perth in September 2023 — 32 months ago. Recent form reads as a string of mid-field finishes and one placing, which suggests a horse that may be finding its level or simply waiting for the right race to click. It raced just one day ago, so the yard is clearly keeping it busy and looking for that spark to return. At nine, with a Class 2 win at Haydock already on its CV and a perfect course record at Sedgefield, there's still plenty to admire here — and perhaps a reason to keep watching.