Mickey Bowen

The most important relationship in the yard is also a family one. Jockey James Bowen has partnered with Mickey to devastating effect, winning 19 times from 104 rides together — that's nearly 1 in every 5, an 18% win rate that puts their combination well above average. When you see those two names alongside each other on a racecard, it is worth paying attention.

Bowen has also shown a sharp eye for ground conditions. On fast, dry ground his horses win 3 times from every 10 races — a 30% win rate that is exceptional by any standard. That suggests his string is trained with pace and sharpness in mind, horses that want the ball rolling under their feet rather than slogging through mud.

If there is one track that tells you everything about how far Bowen has come in a short time, it is Perth. Eight winners from just 22 runners at the Scottish course means he wins more than 1 in every 3 races he sends a runner to there. That kind of dominance at a specific track is rarely accidental — it speaks to careful planning, horses that suit the track's particular demands, and a team that knows exactly what it is doing when it travels north. For a trainer only three years into the job, that is a remarkable foothold to have built.