Orandi

Both of Orandi's victories have arrived at The Curragh, Ireland's most famous flat racing venue, and both on wet or muddy ground. On soft or heavy ground across his career, he has won 2 of just 5 races — a 40% win rate that would make him the envy of far more celebrated horses. That is a genuinely remarkable number. For context, most very good horses win around 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 races at their peak. Orandi hitting that mark specifically when conditions turn against most rivals suggests he is not just tolerating the mud — he is thriving in it while others struggle.

His most recent win came at The Curragh in March 2025, and his career there reads 2 wins from 5 races — an exceptional record at any track. Course specialists are real in racing; some horses simply respond to a particular layout, bend, or surface, and Orandi is clearly one of them. The Curragh's wide, galloping track appears to suit everything about the way he runs.

The recent form makes for harder reading. His last six races have produced placings of 7th, 21st, 15th, 21st, 8th, and 9th — no wins, and some of those finishes suggest days when things went wrong rather than merely went against him. He has not won in over a year. Trained by A.J. Martin at Summerhill in County Meath — a yard that has already sent out 15 winners this season, so there is no shortage of ability coming through the gate — Orandi appears to be waiting for the right moment rather than the right reinvention.

He raced just yesterday, so fitness is not in question. The puzzle for the team now is simple enough to state, harder to solve: find wet ground at The Curragh and Orandi becomes a different proposition entirely. On fast ground elsewhere, the evidence suggests he is likely to disappoint. On a soft day at his favourite track, he has already shown he can win.