Trained by Ewan Whillans out of Hawick in the Scottish Borders, Dublinofficecallin is part of a yard that has been firing on all cylinders this season — 28 winners sent out already, which is a serious body of work for a smaller regional operation. When a trainer is in that kind of form, it tends to rub off on every horse in the yard, and Whillans clearly knows how to place his horses in the right spots. Perth, a tight, flat track in Perthshire that suits front-runners and horses who travel well, was evidently the right call.
The recent form figures — 7-1-7-11-6-6 — show a horse that has been frustratingly inconsistent, with that second place the one real bright spot before the win arrived. But with the confidence of a victory now in the locker, and a trainer in excellent nick, the question is whether Dublinofficecallin can build on it. The horse raced just one day ago, so it is clearly being kept busy, which suggests Whillans sees a horse in good enough shape to take advantage of opportunities while they are there.
At five years old, Dublinofficecallin is still learning the game. Some horses take time to work out what is being asked of them, and when everything finally clicks — the track, the conditions, the moment — they can surprise everyone. Whether this is the start of something or just a solitary highlight remains to be seen, but right now, the Whillans yard will be watching with interest.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 other | 13 May | 50% |
| Ayr Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 6 Mar | 0% |
| Musselburgh Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 20 Mar | 0% |
| Catterick Bridge Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 16 Dec | 0% |