Black Forza

The overall record reads 2 wins and 3 places from 9 races — roughly 1 in every 4 or 5 trips to the track has ended in victory, which is a solid return. The first win came at Fairyhouse in July 2024, and then just three weeks later came that Class 1 success at Goodwood. Two wins in quick succession, each bigger than the last — that is the profile of a horse finding its feet fast and stepping up in class without blinking.

What complicates the picture is what has happened since. Black Forza has not won in its last six races, and recent form figures of 7-10-3-12-4 paint a mixed picture — a third-place finish tucked in among some more forgettable runs. The last victory was nearly 22 months ago now. That gap between the last win and now is long enough to raise questions, even for a yard that has been in good form this season — O'Callaghan's team has sent out 21 winners already in 2025. The good news is that Black Forza raced just yesterday, so whatever is next, this horse is very much still in training and still being pointed at targets.

At four years old, there is every reason to think the story is not finished. Plenty of horses take a circuitous route back to form, and one thing that cannot be taken away is that Class 1 win at Goodwood. A horse that has already proved it can win at the top level is always worth watching.