Pathein

That Doncaster win, on 13 September 2025, was his first career victory, and he picked a good occasion to get off the mark. A Class 2 race is one of the better races in Britain, not the absolute summit, but the kind that separates horses with real ability from those just making up the numbers. Jockey Robert Havlin noted afterwards that Pathein got away with wet, soft conditions on the day — conditions that can flatter some and found out others — but was also quick to praise the horse's attitude. He described him as still physically on the weak side, which is actually an encouraging thing to hear: it suggests there is more to come as he fills out and matures.

Dunlop himself, speaking in April, was straightforward about his regard for the horse. He flagged Pathein as one to follow later in the season, pointing to his strong build, a well-regarded pedigree on his mother's side, and the fact he cost serious money as a young horse. He is also from the first crop of St Mark's Basilica, a stallion who won four consecutive Group 1 races — the highest level in the sport — back in 2021 for trainer Aidan O'Brien. That breeding matters: it means Pathein carries the genetics of a genuine champion, and breeders and trainers pay close attention to how a stallion's first generation of runners perform. Every time Pathein wins, it adds to that story.

The yard itself is in good form, having sent out 36 winners already this season. Pathein raced just a day ago, so he is clearly in active training and in the mix for whatever comes next. A horse with one win, a good pedigree, a trainer who believes in him, and the physical scope to improve — there is plenty to keep watching here.