Star Of Mali

The horse's two victories both came at Southwell, a track where it has developed a real edge. It has won 2 of its 5 races there, a much sharper win rate than its overall numbers suggest. The most recent victory came just six weeks ago on 18 June, and with Star Of Mali racing as recently as yesterday, it remains an active and competitive proposition. James Tate's Newmarket yard, which has sent out 51 winners this season, appears to have the horse tuned in at the moment.

There is clear evidence of what suits it best. On normal ground conditions, Star Of Mali wins roughly 1 in every 3 races — 2 wins from 7 attempts — which is notably higher than its baseline win rate of 18%. The sweet spot looks to be races at distances between seven furlongs and a mile, where it has won 2 of its last 6 races (33%). Given that it competes mainly in Class 5 races where it has only one win from seven attempts, the horse appears to be a creature of specific conditions and tracks rather than a universally accomplished performer. But at Southwell, on a normal surface, at its preferred distance, Star Of Mali becomes a genuinely interesting prospect — a specialist that knows how to win when the pieces fall into place.