Sarah Joanna Connell

The most revealing statistic in her record is what happens when the rain comes down. On wet or muddy ground, Connell wins 2 races from every 5 she enters — 40%, which is the sort of figure that experienced punters would underline twice. Whether that reflects smart horse selection, a training approach that suits softer conditions, or simply a string that takes to heavy ground naturally, it is a genuine edge that sets her apart from many trainers with far longer careers behind them.

Her most reliable partnership in the saddle has been with jockey Aidan Kelly. Across 12 rides together they have combined for 2 wins — a 17% win rate, or roughly 1 in every 6, which edges comfortably ahead of her yard average. That kind of consistency between a trainer and jockey matters more than it might seem; it usually means they are picking the right races and the right moments together. Equally notable is her bond with Catchabird, a horse she has saddled for 13 races and won twice with — a partnership that clearly means something to the yard given how often they keep going back to the well.

Three winners from 22 runners will not make headlines, but for a trainer only two years in, building a clear identity around wet-ground form and a trusted jockey partnership is exactly how small yards grow into bigger ones.