Four years into his training career, Michael Gates is still waiting for that first winner. Since setting up in 2021, he has sent out 10 runners in the past 12 months without one crossing the line in front — and the same is true of his season so far. For most sports, a 0 from 10 record would be a rough patch. In horse racing, where small yards can go months between winners and the margins are brutally thin, it is a reality many trainers quietly navigate, particularly in the early years of building a string.Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
A snapshot of this trainer's performance over the last 12 months
10
Races
0
Wins
0%
Win rate
avg ~10%
10%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
🔍 Full Analysis
TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
TrackLab's Trainer Breakdown
Auto-Generated
The most telling thread running through Gates's record is his partnership with Hitthekettle, a horse he has saddled for 12 races together without a win to show for it. That kind of long-running combination — trainer and horse repeatedly lining up together — usually speaks to belief and persistence. Neither has given up on the other, which in itself says something. Whether Hitthekettle is a horse that needs everything to fall perfectly on the day, or simply one that keeps running into better rivals, twelve races is a significant commitment of time and hope.
The breakthrough win, when it comes, will mean a great deal. For a yard of this size and at this stage of its development, a first winner is not just a result — it changes everything, from confidence to credibility. Gates is still early in his career, and the trainers who last are rarely the ones who had it easy at the start.
📈 Form Trend
How this trainer's win rate has changed month by month
Monthly win rate
2024–2026
0%
Apr
0%
May
0%
Jun
0%
Jul
0%
Jul
0%
Sep
0%
Oct
0%
Feb
🎯 Where This Trainer Thrives
Performance broken down by ground, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Good (firm-ish)
Unknown
Good to firm (drying out)
Unknown
Heavy (very wet)
Unknown
Good to soft (some give)
Unknown
🏅 Competition Level
Class 3 (mid-level)
Unknown
Class 4 (standard)
Unknown
Class 5 (entry-level)
Unknown
🏟 Track Shape
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Unknown
Right-handed, tight turns
Unknown
🏇 Jockey Partnerships
The riders they work with most, sorted by rides together