Mathew French
How did you get involved in racing?
Racing has always been part of my life. My grandfather and great-grandfather were trainers, so I grew up around stables, stories and Saturdays at the track. My first job was working as a valet in the jockeys’ room for Steven Parnham, which gave me a real appreciation for the professional side of racing. While I’ve always followed the sport closely, over the past five years I’ve committed to taking a more professional approach to form analysis and becoming more involved in the industry.
What is a memorable moment or experience that confirmed your passion for horse racing?
Some of my favourite memories are going to the track with Dad for the last few races of the day, standing in the bookies’ ring and watching the parade. I still remember a day when the money kept coming for a horse, we heard the whispers, Dad had a dollar on, and halfway up the straight it was the only horse you wanted to be on. That thrill hooked me.
Later in life, owning a horse with my family, the share was so small and cheap that the Uber to the races cost more than she did, and watching her win five races, including in the city, really cemented my passion. Sharing those moments with family and friends was incredibly special.
What is your favourite track to cover, and why?
Ascot is the heart of WA racing and you can’t beat it for atmosphere and quality. But I’ve always been drawn to regional racing. I love the unique challenges of each country track, whether it’s the dirt racing at Broome and Carnarvon, the once-a-year meeting at Dongara, or the wide, spacious course at Esperance. These tracks have character, local form quirks and genuine variety, and I really enjoy diving into those nuances when doing the form.
How would you describe your approach to form analysis?
I’m very much a replay-based form student. I don’t rely on commercial data providers, I watch each race closely and pull publicly available data into my own Excel spreadsheets. Excel is life for me. I take notes on economical runs, horses that were held up, those that ran well against expectations, and how the track pattern influenced results. All of that feeds into my preview sheets so I have a bank of insight ready when assessing future races.
What factors do you value most when doing the form?
My first step is always to refer back to the comments and observations I’ve made previously, those notes often tell the real story. From there, speed maps and expected tempo are critical. Understanding where each horse will land in the run, how much pressure there’ll be, and whether the race shape will suit the runners I like is often the difference between a good bet and a bad one.
Most memorable win on the punt?
A maiden winner at Broome called Berta stands out above the rest. She was around the $20 mark taking on a $1.70 favourite, and I was incredibly confident, so much so that I woke up thinking about her that morning and told family and friends to get on. There’s nothing better than landing a long-priced winner you’ve identified early and seeing it all unfold exactly how you thought.