Carlas Big Jim

Those two wins arrived in quick succession early in 2024 — first at Clonmel in February, then at Gowran Park the following month — and that remains the full extent of Carlas Big Jim's time in the winner's enclosure. It is now 26 months since that Gowran Park success, and the horse has not threatened to add to its tally in the six races since, with finishes of 6th, 10th, 9th, and a couple of non-finishes making for tough reading.

One thing that does work in this horse's favour is the weather. On very wet, muddy ground, Carlas Big Jim has won 2 of its 12 races — a 17% win rate, which is more than three times its overall record. Both career wins came in conditions where the ground was properly testing, which suggests the horse genuinely needs cut in the ground to show its best. In drier conditions, it has struggled to make any impression at all.

Regular rider Mr C J Shine has been aboard for 15 of those 40 races and is responsible for both wins, giving the pair a combined win rate of 13% together — meaningfully better than the horse's overall figure. That shared record hints at a genuine partnership, even if results have been hard to come by lately. Carlas Big Jim raced just yesterday, so it is clearly still being kept busy, and with the right conditions — a wet, muddy track and Shine in the saddle — there may yet be one more day in the sun for this well-travelled veteran.