The ground matters enormously with this horse. On normal conditions, Kalsman has won 2 of 9 races — roughly 1 in every 4 or 5 — which is a meaningful number. That 22% win rate on standard ground dwarfs anything achieved on other surfaces, and it tells you exactly when to pay attention. When the ground is right, this horse is a different animal.
The career timeline is interesting too. The first win didn't arrive until June 2024 at Downpatrick, well into Kalsman's career, which means the team waited a long time for that breakthrough. Then, most recently, a win at Down Royal just four weeks ago — the horse is as live as it has ever been heading into its next run. At 8, racehorses are not usually improving, which makes the current run of form all the more striking.
There is one curious footnote. Thomas Reilly, the jockey who has ridden Kalsman more than anyone else, has drawn a blank in all 8 of their races together — 0 wins from 8 rides. That is not a partnership that has clicked, and yet the horse has found its best form. The two recent wins have clearly come with someone else in the saddle, which is the kind of detail worth filing away. Kalsman, it seems, has opinions about who rides it.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Down Royal Galloping |
7 | 1 win, 6 other | 12 Apr | 14.3% |
| Downpatrick Undulating |
7 | 1 win, 6 other | 8 May | 14.3% |
| Dundalk Galloping |
6 | 6 other | 13 Dec | 0% |
| Punchestown Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 10 Jun | 0% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 9 Jul | 0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
1 | 1 other | 5 Jun | 0% |
| Galway Tight |
1 | 1 other | 29 Oct | 0% |