The horse has raced sixteen times now, winning just once and finishing in the places three times—a record that reads as modest, but the detail matters more than the overall numbers. Defence Missile runs best at distances between a mile and a furlong and a mile and two furlongs, and over those trips he has won 1 out of 6 races, a win rate of roughly 1 in 6. That is a marked improvement on his form in top-level races, where he has never won from six attempts. His recent form shows fight: eighth place, a win, fifth, ninth, eighth, and sixth in his last six outings. The Newcastle success came last week, and he was out again just yesterday, finishing eighth, which suggests Perratt is keeping him active and looking for another opening.
What Defence Missile needs now is a run at the right level and distance. His one win came at a track and distance combination that suits him, and the yard—which has already sent out nineteen winners this season—will be hunting for more opportunities where he can compete at his best. For a horse that has taken this long to break his duck, every race now counts.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayr Galloping |
3 | 3 other | 19 Jun | 0% |
| Hamilton Park Sharp |
3 | 3 other | 1 Aug | 0% |
| Musselburgh Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 30 Jun | 0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 23 Jul | 0% |
| Newcastle Galloping |
1 | 1 win | 25 Jul | 100% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 10 May | 0% |
| Newbury Galloping |
1 | 1 second | 17 May | 0% |
| Salisbury Undulating |
1 | 1 third | 13 Jul | 0% |
| Ascot Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 22 Jun | 0% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 21 Aug | 0% |