Fai Fai

What makes Fai Fai worth watching is the connection with jockey George Rooke. Together they have won twice from six races, a win rate of roughly one win in every three attempts. That is a genuine partnership: Rooke clearly gets the best out of this horse, and in a sport where the right rider can make a real difference, that kind of winning rate together stands out compared to the overall career figures. When Rooke is in the saddle, Fai Fai becomes a different proposition.

Trainer Daniel Steele, based at Henfield in West Sussex, has a modest yard that has sent out only four winners this season. Fai Fai competes mostly at Class 6 level, where it has won 2 of 31 races — again, roughly 6%, which is slightly better than its overall record but still reflects the horse's limitations. Recent form shows a struggle: three places and no wins across the last six races, with a pair of third-place finishes sandwiching some less competitive runs. At this stage of its career, Fai Fai is what it is — a consistent, willing competitor who might occasionally get its nose in front when circumstances align, but a stakes winner it will never be.