The overall numbers tell a solid story too. Dods has sent out 227 career winners in total, and over the past twelve months alone he has saddled 43 winners from 518 runners — that is roughly 1 in every 12, an 8% win rate. Consistent rather than spectacular in volume, perhaps, but the quality of those wins more than compensates.
Two partnerships stand out. With jockey Connor Beasley, Dods has built what looks like the yard's most reliable combination: 16 wins from 175 rides together, winning at a rate of 9%, or almost 1 in every 11. That is a working relationship built on repetition and trust, and the numbers reflect it. Then there is Roaring Ralph — a horse who has won 7 of the 41 races they have shared. In a sport where finding one horse you really click with can define a career, that kind of partnership is worth its weight.
Dods also has a feel for conditions. On slightly soft ground — turf that has had a little rain but is not yet heavy — his team wins 13% of its races, 6 from 47. That is meaningfully better than his overall average, suggesting he picks his spots well when the weather turns. Wolverhampton is another place to note: 3 winners from just 10 runners there, which is an exceptional conversion rate at an all-weather track that suits a particular type of horse.
Four years in, eight top-level wins banked, and a clear eye for the right race on the right day. Michael Dods is building something worth watching.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | 101 | 5 | 5.0% |
| Ayr | 54 | 8 | 14.8% |
| Thirsk | 54 | 4 | 7.4% |
| Southwell | 50 | 6 | 12% |
| Redcar | 34 | 0 | 0% |
| Hamilton Park | 32 | 2 | 6.2% |
| Carlisle | 22 | 4 | 18.2% |
| Doncaster | 22 | 1 | 4.5% |
| Beverley | 22 | 1 | 4.5% |
| York | 18 | 1 | 5.6% |
| Catterick Bridge | 16 | 1 | 6.2% |
| Pontefract | 15 | 1 | 6.7% |
| Haydock Park | 14 | 0 | 0% |
| Wolverhampton | 10 | 3 | 30% |
| Musselburgh | 9 | 1 | 11.1% |
| Ripon | 8 | 2 | 25% |
| Wetherby | 7 | 1 | 14.3% |
| Kempton Park | 5 | 1 | 20% |
| Leicester | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Nottingham | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Ascot | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Goodwood | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Newbury | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Lingfield Park | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Newmarket | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Windsor | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| chelmsford | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Sandown Park | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Leopardstown | 1 | 0 | 0% |