One thing in racing that never ceases to amaze me is how someone will spend a small fortune on bloodstock and then just allow it to be ridden by their trainers ‘selected’. Can never understand that. If I spent a fortune on bloodstock, after oodles of time consulting pedigrees and sales brochures, and the trainer did that to me then I’d smack them around the head with my shooting stick for a good half an hour, before proclaiming, ‘I’d decide on the jockey, you follow?!?’. Unless said trainer was Mr Henderson and then I’d respond, ‘Top call, Mr Henderson, in you we trust’. Anyway, enough waffling, my pick would be: Flat - Ryan Moore NH – Mr Sam Waley-Cohen (3)
Flat-Pat Smullen Jumps-Richard Johnson.Jack Kennedy is going to be a class jockey and will be the number one rider for Gtown in the next couple of years.
Yes, one of my favourites in the late 80s / early 90s. I would often combine 4 of his rides into a small stakes flag bet Wasn't he stable jockey to Clive Brittain for a while?
Just read the Beckhampton biography by Paul Mathieu: a good read. One part surprised me enormously and I had never heard it before. In late 1966 Noel Murless rang up Jimmy Lindley and asked him to take over from Lester as stable jockey. Lindley declined as he said he was happy with his retainer at Beckhampton and wanted to remain loyal to Jeremy Tree. Murless then asked Lindley if he would just take a retainer for Royal Palace in 1967. Lindley went to Tree and asked permission to be released for the Royal Palace rides. Tree, usually the most amiable and generous of men, told Lindley he would not release him as he had 4 Derby colts at Beckhampton. The fallout of this was that Moore became stable jockey for Murless, Tree ran no horse in the 1967 Derby and Lindley threw in the towel at Beckhampton at the end of '67. Despite this it was obvious Lindley had great affection for Tree. A couple of interesting other bits in the book. Lord Weinstock approached Tree and asked if he'd accept some of his horses. Simon Weinstock rang Tree up and told him he expected regular reports on all the horses etc. etc. to which Tree replied 'take the horses away', Never knew that happened. Finally a cracking Lester story. Tree happened to mention to Lester that he was due to give a talk at his old school. He asked Lester what he should tell them. Lester replied ' tell them you've got the flu'.
I remember the Mouse winning the Haydock sprint cup on Wolfhound very well. Remember a big black helicopter arriving shortly before the start of the race with Sheik Mohammed and his entourage. It won, carrying my hard earned. I got 4/1 and actually stood about 10 yards away from the sheik in the pre parade ring. He had an aura around him!!! I think He went back to South Africa and was a trainer for a while.....Mouse, not the Sheik!
Il agree with both of Oddys selections here. Geraghty just edges out Walsh for me. Walsh is brilliant, but I just feel my money is safer on a Geraghty ridden steering job than a Walsh one. Quite a lot of pocket talk involved in that opinion Its hard to look past Moore on the flat these days. Dettori in his prime was as good, but at this stage of their careers I'd have Moore. I must say though that I think the quality of flat jockeys isn't as strong as it was 10 years ago. A lot of outstanding riders have retired like Kinane, Murtagh and the best of the lot for me Kieren Fallon. With the exception of Moore, who was around 10 years ago anyways, there aren't that many top class riders these days.
On the flat, Ryan Moore absolutely stole the 2000 Guineas last Saturday. Had Dettori been on Al Wukair, I think he might have won, or at least gone very close. On balance, Ryan Moore has stolen more races than Fred Done has robbed £££ off the Tote, so I'll go with him. Anyone remember Notnowcato? Over jumps you can tie a sack of spuds on it's back for all I care. At least the spuds wouldn't fall off.
Tried to get replay of Notnowcato's win, but it won't let it play. Just go to Youtube and type in (2007 coral eclipse, Notnowcato) It was a brilliant piece of horsemanship, too bad the broadcast was so awful. We never got to see just where Noitnowcato was in relation to the inside lot.
I was at Sandown that day Cyc. Backed Authorised and was watching the battle - every bit as exciting as anticipated - between two great horses on the far rail. Never thought til the last second that Moore was going to nick it on the stands side, on a Group 3 animal. Only jockey to walk the course that day. It's that attention to detail that can make all the difference.
