Kibris

The first win came at The Curragh in November 2024, and it left an impression on everyone who saw it. Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, never a man to dish out compliments lightly, described Kibris as "a gorgeous big horse" who "picked up better than I thought" and was "very professional" — the kind of language riders use about horses they expect to see again at a higher level. Crawford himself noted the race set up perfectly, but that it was Kibris who delivered on the opportunity, and that he was "one to look forward to."

Not every subsequent run has matched that promise. Crawford was open enough to admit the horse was below par at Cork at one point during the season, and the recent form figures — 1, pulled up, third, fourth, second, fifth, reading from most recent backwards — show a horse that has been inconsistent. Pulled-up runs are always a flag worth noting; something wasn't right that day, and the trainer will know more than we do about why.

What matters most right now, though, is that Kibris ended the week on a win. Racing at Perth just this week, he landed his second career victory to make it 2 from 10 lifetime. Crawford's yard has sent out 12 winners already this season, so this is clearly a team in form, and having Kibris back in the winner's enclosure at a track as far from Larne as Perth suggests the team is willing to travel when they believe the horse has a genuine chance.

At 4 years old, Kibris is still learning. The raw ability was there from the start — that Curragh win announced it. Whether he can string performances together consistently is the question his record hasn't fully answered yet. But a win this week, trained by a yard firing on all cylinders, means he heads into whatever comes next with momentum. Keep an eye on him.