A DAY TO REMEMBER FOR THE GIRLS! Where do I start? What a thrill that was last weekend winning the Shergar Cup alongside Emma-Jayne and Sammy Jo. It was a great day for us and it was great fun to be part of it once again. It never disappoints really!
The bigger winner though, was my Dad who won our after-hours Treasure Hunt! He managed to squeeze himself into Yutake Take’s silks for it and we had a great time. My family had a great day there as well. They were really well looked after and they were even brought down to the start for one the races to get a real behind the scenes look.
GREAT WIN FOR SAMMY JO
It was great day for all three of us but it was especially good for Sammy Jo winning the Silver Saddle prize as the Leading Rider. There is a lot of hype about the day but the occasion never seemed to faze her at all and she just rode like it was any other race. Not a lot of jockeys are able to do that, there’s a lot of pressure and she kept her cool really well.
It’s a massive thing for an apprentice to win something like this and it’s the first time an apprentice has been involved. Maybe in time there’ll be an Apprentice’s Team? This will be a day she’ll never forget for sure.
I really enjoyed riding alongside Emma-Jayne as well. She’s great fun to be around and she’s always really positive about the races she’s in. You need someone like that on the day to lighten the mood and keep us all focussed!
Myself and Emma-Jayne have been part of the Shergar Cup since 2006 but there was only two teams at the time, Great Britain and Ireland V Rest of the World. It’s amazing to see how it’s snowballed since then and it was really nice to finally be on the winning team!
I’ve had a lot of really good feedback about the event all week and I think Channel 4 got it across very well. I suppose it’s very different to what we’re used to in racing. We’re used to riding as individuals so the team aspect puts a very different spectacle for the viewers to sit and watch at home. It’s just really good fun.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a winner on the day but a couple of my rides ran really well and will be really interesting runners next time out.
Justice Day ran a cracking race to finish third in the sprint race. I was drawn away from the pace which didn’t help and the ground was probably quick enough for him. He didn’t get beaten far but if there’s rain at York he could run in the Nunthorpe and he could run well.
York is such a fast five furlongs which will suit him better than in Ascot, there wasn’t really enough pace there and he might just be hitting that race at the right time.
It was amazing to win the Cup though. There is probably an argument for us to be on the team with guys, myself and Sammy Jo would ride for GB&I and Emma Jayne would ride for the Rest of the World but it’s really special for us to ride on a Girls team and it seems to attract an extra audience as well. It’s something very unique.
HOPING THE RAIN STAYS AWAY FROM NEWMARKET
I was planning to ride Shaden in the Listed race at Newbury this afternoon but unfortunately she is now a non runner. She won really well at Ffos Las last time out. I always think that it’s good to keep the sprinting types like her busy when they’re in good form so I’m looking forward to riding her again sometime soon.
I have a really good ride on Saturday for Tom Dascombe that I’m looking forward to in Dawn’s Early Light. He was due to run in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon and was likely to be favourite for that but with so much rain at Ripon, Tom wants to keep him on quick ground so he’s been switched to Newmarket.
I really hope it doesn’t rain. It’s just spitting out a little bit but he’ll have a great shout in it, once it stays dry.
I have another two rides for Tom at Newmarket on Saturday, the first being Four’s Company. I didn’t see her run at Chester but it read like she was a little unlucky on the day. She’s still only rated 75 so she’s running off a decent mark. I also ride a two year old for him but I don’t know much about it at this point I’m afraid.
I also ride He’s My Boy who won at Newmarket before. He runs in the Grey’s race and it’s actually quite competitive. It all depends what mood he’s in on the day. He’s a tricky ride but he’s won over course and distance before and the track does suit so you never know.
Last week, I mentioned a horse I rode at Carlisle called Di’s Gift as being one to watch out for over two miles. He’s running on Sunday at Pontefract. I’m really happy to be getting on him again and I hope he runs another good race.
On Tuesday I’m going to be at Leicester and one that I ride is for Pam Sly that I won on in July called Ghinia. She won at Leicester that and she’s only gone up 2lbs for that win. That was on real fast ground which she didn’t really enjoy so if there’s any rain on Monday and Tuesday, I’ll be happy to see it for her.
WORLD ALL STARS JOCKEYS SERIES INVITE
I’ve been given an amazing opportunity to take part in the World All Stars Jockey’s Series at the end of August taking place in Japan. I can’t wait for this and it’s a privilege to have been invited to take part of behalf of Europe alongside Thierry Jarnet of France.
This is a special event and some of the European jockeys have done well in it before. Richard Hughes won it in 2013 with Pat Smullen in second. Johnny Murtagh won in 2011 and Ryan Moore in 2010 so I have some big shoes to fill but I hope it will be good trip.
It’s a whistle stop tour as I fly into Japan on Friday morning, ride on Saturday and Sunday and then fly home Sunday night so you don’t get to see much of the country.
I’ve been lucky enough to ride winners in France, Italy and also in America so it would be amazing to win a race in Japan and hopefully I’ll be able to add that to the CV!
CAN’T WAIT FOR DESERT STRIKE TO RUN AGAIN
I can’t leave you without another mention for my good friend Desert Strike who won last week at Chelmsford. He’s such a warrior of a horse. He’s so tough and I can’t wait for him to run again.
Conor has done a great job training him. He’s always trying his hardest but he always seems to get to a certain level and he needs a break from handicapper. When he drops back below 80, he’s able to win again and invariably he does.
I think I’ve won more races on only one other horse but I hope Desert Strike can add some more wins to his name in time.
In the meantime, here’s hoping the rain stays away for Newmarket on Saturday!
