Centara

The most striking thing about Centara is what it does at Newton Abbot, a tight, turning track in Devon that suits certain horses down to the ground. Centara has won 4 of its 6 races there — that's two in every three visits — and its most recent win came at Newton Abbot on 29 September 2025, at the top end of British racing with a Class 2 victory. Winning four races in a row at the same track is rare enough that Nicholls himself noted it on the record: "Not many win four on the trot." The owner, Kathy Stuart, also pointed out that when Centara did get beaten, there were circumstances worth noting — a bypassed fence and softer, muddier ground than the horse prefers.

The recent form tells a compelling story. Of the last six races, Centara has won three, placed once, and only really come up short twice. Jockey Harry Cobden, who partners Centara most regularly, has won 2 of their 10 races together — about 1 in every 5 — which is a decent record at this level, though Centara has clearly shown it can win with others aboard too. Nicholls' read on the horse is straightforward and telling: "Centara goes a gallop and keeps jumping, and is obviously improving." At 8 years old, with a career earning around £74,000, this is a horse in the form of its life, racing frequently while conditions suit, and with a trainer who knows exactly which opportunities to aim it at. There are worse places to be.