HAYLEY TURNER REFLECTS ON HER FINAL WEEKEND IN THE SADDLE IN BRITAIN: So, this is my last weekend as a Jockey in the UK. I travel to South Africa next week for their Jockey’s Challenge and they will be my final rides.
I’m actually quite excited about the weekend ahead. It’s been a while since I made the announcement and everything has gone so well since with the winner in Japan and a Group race winner.
I also had a great day in Southwell this week when Yul Finegold got up on the line to win. Southwell is my local track so it was great to get a winner there on my last day racing at the track. My family were all there as well which made it even better and it was great to have a winner for Conor before I finish up. I think Conor really wanted to give me a winner, he’s a really clever trainer and really knows his horses well so I’m very thankful to him for that.
MY FINAL RIDES ARE GOOD ONES!
I’ve got two rides tonight at Chelmsford and I’m looking forward to riding both of them.
Clovelly Bay runs for Marcus Tregonning in a very open looking race at 5.40. He’s run some good races recently with Marcus’s son and he’s been knocking on the door a lot lately so I’m hoping that tonight will be his night.
A little later on I ride Castle Combe, who I’ve spoken about before. He seems to settle better in his races when he’s on the All Weather so I’ll be looking to drop him out the back and creep through them near the finish. Charlie Appleby’s horse, Anglophile is the one we have to beat but I’m hoping for the best on Castle Combe and hopefully another winner for Marcus!
Tomorrow, my last day riding in the UK, I go to Doncaster for the November Handicap and I’m quite excited about
some of my rides there tomorrow.
The first one is Penny Pot Lane for Richard Whitaker. She’s been quite consistent in her runs so far and although she ran initially as if 6 furlongs would suit her, I’m not sure she fully stayed the trip the last time. That was at Carlisle though and it’s quite a stiff track there. Doncaster is slightly easier on the sprint track so that might suit her better.
I can’t wait to ride Hillbilly Boy for Tom Dascombe. He’s a cracking horse with loads of speed and he stays well too. He’ll love the ground tomorrow and he ran well last time at Leicester when he got beaten by Cathy Gannon on one she gave a great ride to Dinkum Diamond. Everything just needs to fall right for that fella and it did that day and I think he has a great chance tomorrow.
Another that I’m really looking forward to is Ghalib for Ed Walker. I rode him a couple of months ago in Wolverhampton and we just got pipped at the post by Don’t Touch who was very unexposed that day and went on to win the Ayr Gold Cup. Ghalib is a really big horse for a three year old and Wolverhampton was a little sharp for him that day. We ended up running quite wide on the bend but that was all we could do to keep his balance so he ran a great race to finish second. He’s a horse I really like and I think Doncaster’s straight track should help him and he’ll love the give in the ground.
In the other Listed race, I ride Bella Nouf for Willie Haggas. She won really last time with Andrea Atzeni on board in first time Cheekpieces. She won going away and they seemed to make a big difference to her. She has a little bit to find on the ratings, but the cheekpieces could bring out a little more improvement.
My final ride is an ironic one in the November Handicap. Fifteen years ago, Declan Carroll gave me my first ride at Southwell and tomorrow he gives me my final ride in Britain on Buoarroti in the big race of the day. It’s great that he’s putting me up on this one and I hope he runs really well. It’s a good race as always and it’s always very competitive so I’ll be hoping for the best with him.
Tomorrow is going to be a special day at Doncaster. All my family members are going so that’s really exciting and hopefully I can get a winner on the day.
SOUTH AFRICA BECKONS
On Monday, myself, Rab Havlin and Pat Cosgrove travel to South Africa for their Jockey’s Challenge and I can’t wait to get out there. As an added bonus, I’ve been named as Captain of the Rest of the World team which is a huge honour.
We have a couple of days to rest and relax next week before racing on Friday and Saturday in Cape Town and Johannesburg. I’ve ridden there before so that’s an advantage but they race very similar to how they do in Britain. It’s the one country I’ve been to where the racing is so similar so that’s also a big help.
Another thing is that they’re only an hour ahead of UK time. Usually it’s really hard to get your head into the time zone, especially when you’re only there for a short time, but South Africa is very different and it should be a big advantage to us.
RETIREMENT PARTY WAS A GREAT NIGHT
Last Sunday I had a retirement party and it was a brilliant night in Newmarket. There was a huge turnout and I just
want to thank everyone who came to make it a memorable night.
It was great fun, the dancefloor was packed even when we were having Wheelbarrow races across it!! We also had a photobooth and, as you can see from the photos, it was brilliant fun.
FINALLY…
It feels wierd that tomorrow will be my final day riding in the UK but I’m really excited and I have absolutely no regrets. I’ve had a wonderful career and I’m looking forward to moving on to something new.
All the other jockey’s keep saying to me that I’ll be back in the saddle next year but I have no intention of going back!
It’s going to be a big hole to fill, I can assure you of that. I’ve been so busy going racing for the last 15 years, I’m now looking forward to having some time to chill out and move on to a new chapter.
Hopefully tomorrow will be another great day to conclude a great career.
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