At 14 years old, this is a horse that has been around long enough to know exactly what it likes. It prefers normal ground conditions, and on those surfaces it has won 2 of 4 races — a remarkable 50% record that suggests the team know exactly when to aim it at a race and when to wait. That kind of patience pays off. Its most recent win came at Punchestown in May 2025, and it raced just a day ago, which means this is a horse still very much in the mix and being campaigned actively.
The partnership with jockey Mr B T Stone is worth noting too — one win from five races together, a 20% win rate, which mirrors the horse's overall career average and suggests a settled, working relationship. Trainer R P O'Keeffe's yard has sent out 3 winners this season, so while it isn't a large operation turning out winners week after week, they clearly know how to place a horse to its best advantage. Vital Island's entire career record makes that point well: three wins, every single one of them at the same course. That isn't coincidence. That's management.
Recent form shows a win sandwiched between some quieter efforts — a first, a fourth, and a couple of unplaced runs in the last six races. That's the pattern of a horse that picks its moments. At 14, it isn't going to run at its peak every single time, but point it toward Punchestown on decent ground and the form book suggests you'd be foolish to dismiss it.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punchestown Galloping |
13 | 3 wins, 2 seconds, 8 other | 30 Apr | 23.1% |
| Cheltenham Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 12 Dec | 0% |
| Thurles Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 23 Jan | 0% |