CHEER ON THE GIRLS AT ASCOT: I’ve had a good week with three winners since last Friday but this is the weekend I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time as I’m part of the Shergar Cup Ladies Team tomorrow at Ascot.
This is a great day to be a part of and it’s a privilege to ride in it and to ride with some of the best jockeys in the world. This is my 9th year to ride in the Shergar Cup and I’m hoping that this will be my year along with the other two girls, Sammy Jo Bell and Emma Jayne Wilson.
It’s great to get to see some new faces in the weighing room. We’re a relatively close knit-group in the UK so to have some of the international jockeys over is a nice change.
DESERT STRIKES AGAIN!
That’s tomorrow but looking back over the week, I won last Friday with Dutch Gallery for Tom Dascombe. That one surprised a few people I think but he was a really nice horse and won quite nicely in the end.
This week has been a slightly different one for me because not only am I part of the Shergar Cup but I also rode in the Ladies Day at Carlisle on Monday.
This was my second year to ride at it and my second time to pick up the Leading Rider trophy. I’ll have to try hold onto my 100% record again in 12 months time!
I had a nice win on Iftikaar and he won quite easily. There probably wasn’t much in the race but they went a good even gallop all the way which suited him down to the ground. To be honest, I would have been very disappointed if he hadn’t won so it was nice that he did it so easily.
I also went close with Di’s Gift in the 2 mile race. Even though he’s getting on in years, he’s still quite progressive and is one to keep an eye on. I think he might be aimed at a 2 mile 1 race Pontefract in a few weeks time and he’ll be an interesting for that one.
Good old Desert Strike did it again on Tuesday for Conor Dore! That’s my 7th time to win on him! I think I’ve only ridden more winners on one other horse in my career. He was great again on Tuesday. It’s a pity he’s nine now but that is his level and if he can get an easy lead, if something comes to challenge him inside the final furlong, they won’t get by him! He’s a tough, game horse and he’ll hopefully have another win in him in a couple of runs time.
HOPING TO GO ONE BETTER WITH THE GIRLS!
Onto tomorrow for the Shergar Cup. I’ve got some good rides that I’m quite excited about.
The races are done differently to any other race in that each jockey is drawn to a horse in each race. It’s all done very fairly and the rides spread out between all of us so it’s gives everyone a good chance.
Every year is different with the Shergar Cup and I think that’s why it’s so exciting. We (the Girls Team) were very unlucky last year. We only needed a third place finish, 1 point, to win outright. In the final race, Stefanie Hofer could only manage fourth and so we lost out.
We have a great team this year though so I’m hoping for the best.
Great Britain and Ireland are the favourites for it and Graham Lee and Pat Smullen look to have some really good rides but so do myself and Sammy Jo so we’ll be going out all guns blazing!
I’m looking forward to riding with Emma Jayne again. She’s great fun and over the years she’s really gotten a good grasp on the English style of racing. She probably doesn’t have the best book of rides this year, but she’s a great rider so hopefully she’ll be close on a couple.
I’ve actually known Emma Jayne for a long time. When I was younger, Michael Bell sent me to work at the Fairground in New Orleans and Emma Jayne was there at the same time so we know each other quite well.
It’s devastating for Cathy Gannon to miss out on it through injury. She was looking forward to it for a long time but that’s racing unfortunately and hopefully she’s be back in the saddle soon.
We’ve got a fantastic replacement for Cathy though in Sammy Jo Bell who is the Leading Lady Rider in Britain at the moment. She’s kicking home loads of winners and rides with a lot of confidence. There aren’t so many apprentice jockeys that get to ride at this event so it’s just goes to show how highly she’s held.
Of my own rides tomorrow, I think I’ve been drawn on a decent set of horses.
Justice Day is running in his first handicap for some time having been running in Group races and Listed races. Although he has a good bit of weight to carry, this is a nice drop in class so I’ll be expecting a good run from him.
Double Up is a big danger in the race. Even though he’s been very busy lately, he seems to thrive on his racing and when you’ve got a sprinter like him, often, the best thing for them is more racing.
I spoke to Megan Nicholls recently about my second ride, Hassle. She said he’s in good order at home and they think he’ll run well again. He ran a good race last time after a break, finishing third at Ascot. That run should set him up nicely for this and I’m hoping for a good spin.
Unforgiving Minute has been doing most of his winning on the All Weather so it’s hard to know what to expect from him back on the turf. He should run good race though.
Although Earth Drummer hasn’t run since January, David O’Meara is sure to have him in top shape for tomorrow and I think he could be hard to beat.
Skiddaw Valleys may not be quite up to the standard in his race but Sammy Jo Bell has a great ride for Richard Hannon in Shell Bay so I’m hoping she’ll be able to pick up the most points for the Girls.
In the final race, I ride Squats and I’m looking forward to riding him. He ran well last time out at Newmarket, even though he finished 8th, he was only beaten 4 lengths. This could suit him tomorrow and I hope to get a good spin off him.
Personally it would be amazing to win. It would be the icing on the cake for me because I’ve been part of the Shergar Cup for so many years.
It would be amazing for the Girls Team to win it. We’ve been knocking on the door for a couple of years and we should have won it last year. I’m hoping for the best again that this will be our year!
FAMILY DAY OUT WITH AFTER RACING ACTIVITIES!
Shergar Cup day is a great day out and my family and many of my close friends all go to Ascot for it. It’s such a different day with so much going on but my family and friends all spend the day building up for the big event which, for them, actually happens after racing!
Every year we have an after-racing treasure hunt! Everyone gets dressed up in the silks and it finishes with an assault course and it’s always great fun. My sister usually wins but we all have a great time and I’ll be able to fill you on the winners of that next week!
I hope you’ll all tune in to watch Ascot tomorrow and cheer on the Girls! It’s a great day to be part of and here’s hoping that we bring home the trophy this year!
