The new format of the Stobart Flat Jockeys Championship means that the competition now runs from 2 May 2015 (QIPCO 2000 Guineas Day) until Saturday 17 October 2015 (QIPCO British Champions' Day).
There was a lot of fanfare at the start of the season about the revamped format with Stobart carrying the names of various jockeys in a launch at Ascot racecourse.
Stobart lorry launch at Ascot
https://vimeo.com/126433596
But as the season has gone on, interest in the title has not been sparked. Injury to Ryan Moore and the mid-season retirement of Richard Hughes have not helped the situation.
At the launch Hughes was quoted as saying some PR guff: “I have made it clear from the start that I
won’t be giving up my title without a fight and will doing my best to win it for a fourth and final time. I have backed the new format since it was first announced and we are grateful to Stobart for their sponsorship and support.”
This was all true until something more important came along - i.e. retiring to start a training career mid-season.
As August comes to a close the leader in the race is Silvestre De Sousa - whose name was not on one of the launch lorries, too long perhaps? - who has reached 100 winners from 489 rides. 28 wins behind in second place are William Buick and Paul Hanagan.
If the general public were asked to name the current top 3 riders in the jockeys championship, not many respondents would be able to name any, even if they were racing fans.
The jockey most people would guess, Frankie Dettori, is not even in the top 20. But he does lead the list if the championship were measured by total prize money. Dettori has amassed nearly GB£ 3.5 million in prize money, some way ahead of De Sousa's GB£ 1.6 million.
Stobart is the sponsor on a one-year deal. The choice to take up the option to extend the association or not will be revealing as to the value the company places on the new format.
Stobart Jockeys Championship (as at 31 Aug 2015)
1. Silvestre De Sousa (100 wins)
2.= William Buick (72)
2.= Paul Hanagan (72)
4. Luke Morris (68)
5. James Doyle (66)
Showing posts with label Richard Hughes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richard Hughes. Show all posts
31 August 2015
03 August 2013
Hughes The Daddy
If the racecard said Richard Hughes was riding a rocking horse in the next race at Goodwood I would still consider backing it, such is the jockey’s mastery of the West Sussex track.
Hughes has just won another top jockey award at Glorious Goodwood in 2013, recording eight wins over the five days of the festival.
He nominated Toronado’s victory over Dawn Approach in the Qipco Sussex Stakes as the highlight, not just of the week, but of his entire career. But his ride aboard Pether’s Moon (4/1) in the RAC Handicap on Saturday displayed both his horsemanship and track craft at their best.
Pether’s Moon was quite keen in the early part of the race and would never have won if Hughes had allowed the colt to continue pulling over the 1m 4f trip. Instead, he dropped him towards the back of the field as the Mark Johnston duo of Salutation (2nd at 16/1) and Royal Skies (6th at 5/1) set a good pace at the front.
The leaders had gone for home very early in the straight and could not maintain the pace. Hughes began winding Pether’s Moon up for his effort just over two furlongs out and, as the early leaders tired, he hit the front in the final furlong. The winning margin was a comfortable one and a quarter lengths.
Hughes’ knowledge of the Goodwood circuit was thrown into sharp relief by Seamie Heffernan in the Group 1 Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes, who seemed almost to take to wrong course altogether when the track split in two. Watching the Channel 4 virtual reality run of the track beforehand, it did strike me that there was the possibility of confusion at that point in the course. But I assumed jockeys in a Group 1 would know which way they were planning to go.
Winsili (20/1), trained by John Gosden and ridden by William Buick, took the contest ahead of Thistle Bird (33/1) and Hot Snap (5/1). Gosden also trained the winner last year in The Fugue. The result means that Prince Khalid Abdullah has won four of the last five runnings of the Nassau, with Midday’s three wins.
Rex Imperator (12/1) was an impressive winner of the Stewards’ Cup. It is usually a very competitive handicap but William Haggas’ four-year-old was more than two lengths clear of his rivals at the line.
Hughes has just won another top jockey award at Glorious Goodwood in 2013, recording eight wins over the five days of the festival.
He nominated Toronado’s victory over Dawn Approach in the Qipco Sussex Stakes as the highlight, not just of the week, but of his entire career. But his ride aboard Pether’s Moon (4/1) in the RAC Handicap on Saturday displayed both his horsemanship and track craft at their best.
Pether’s Moon was quite keen in the early part of the race and would never have won if Hughes had allowed the colt to continue pulling over the 1m 4f trip. Instead, he dropped him towards the back of the field as the Mark Johnston duo of Salutation (2nd at 16/1) and Royal Skies (6th at 5/1) set a good pace at the front.
The leaders had gone for home very early in the straight and could not maintain the pace. Hughes began winding Pether’s Moon up for his effort just over two furlongs out and, as the early leaders tired, he hit the front in the final furlong. The winning margin was a comfortable one and a quarter lengths.
Hughes’ knowledge of the Goodwood circuit was thrown into sharp relief by Seamie Heffernan in the Group 1 Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes, who seemed almost to take to wrong course altogether when the track split in two. Watching the Channel 4 virtual reality run of the track beforehand, it did strike me that there was the possibility of confusion at that point in the course. But I assumed jockeys in a Group 1 would know which way they were planning to go.
Winsili (20/1), trained by John Gosden and ridden by William Buick, took the contest ahead of Thistle Bird (33/1) and Hot Snap (5/1). Gosden also trained the winner last year in The Fugue. The result means that Prince Khalid Abdullah has won four of the last five runnings of the Nassau, with Midday’s three wins.
Rex Imperator (12/1) was an impressive winner of the Stewards’ Cup. It is usually a very competitive handicap but William Haggas’ four-year-old was more than two lengths clear of his rivals at the line.
31 July 2013
Glorious Goodwood 2013: Day 2
The Qipco Sussex Stakes lived up to the pre-race hype on Wednesday afternoon at Glorious Goodwood as Toronado (11/4) and Dawn Approach (10/11f) went head to head in the final furlong of the Group 1 contest. On this occasion it was Toronado who prevailed by half a length under jockey Richard Hughes, making it 2-1 in favour of Dawn Approach after his wins in the 2000 Guineas (Newmarket) and St James’ Palace Stakes (Royal Ascot).
Hughes’ greater knowledge of the Goodwood track might have been the difference in this instance. He held Toronado up towards the back of the field, whereas Dawn Approach was always up near the front. Dawn Approach was sent for home by Kevin Manning nearly three furlongs from the finish and Hughes was patient, swooping late aboard Toronado to overtake his rival.
It was a beautifully timed move and after the race he described his horse as “very brave and brilliant” to gain a victory that clearly meant a lot to his trainer Richard Hannon.
The racing analysts on Channel 4 noted that Hughes rarely goes for his whip before the 1f marker at Goodwood. The track flattens out at this point and it was suggested that asking a horse for his final burst too early means that it can be unbalanced by the rising ground. By waiting until the track is flatter it might mean the jockey can get the most from his horse when it is properly balanced.
The Sussex Stakes success was the first part of three-timer for Hannon and Hughes on the afternoon. Hughes immediately followed up with an almost identical ride on Toormore (5/4f) in the Veuve Cliquot Vintage Stakes, denying Outstrip (5/1) by a neck. The hat-trick was completed in the final race on the card with Magic City (5/1f).
Cap O’rushes (9/2) was the first Group race runner for new Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby and the New Approach colt duly gave him his first Group winner under Mickael Barzalona in the Gordon Stakes. The colt is now 10/1 for the St Leger in September with Ladbrokes.
It was a rough race and amazing to see how seven horses can find so much trouble. William Buick encountered several blocked paths aboard favourite Excess Knowledge (7/4f) and failed to get up by just a head after finally getting a clear run to the line all too late.
Hughes’ greater knowledge of the Goodwood track might have been the difference in this instance. He held Toronado up towards the back of the field, whereas Dawn Approach was always up near the front. Dawn Approach was sent for home by Kevin Manning nearly three furlongs from the finish and Hughes was patient, swooping late aboard Toronado to overtake his rival.
It was a beautifully timed move and after the race he described his horse as “very brave and brilliant” to gain a victory that clearly meant a lot to his trainer Richard Hannon.
The racing analysts on Channel 4 noted that Hughes rarely goes for his whip before the 1f marker at Goodwood. The track flattens out at this point and it was suggested that asking a horse for his final burst too early means that it can be unbalanced by the rising ground. By waiting until the track is flatter it might mean the jockey can get the most from his horse when it is properly balanced.
The Sussex Stakes success was the first part of three-timer for Hannon and Hughes on the afternoon. Hughes immediately followed up with an almost identical ride on Toormore (5/4f) in the Veuve Cliquot Vintage Stakes, denying Outstrip (5/1) by a neck. The hat-trick was completed in the final race on the card with Magic City (5/1f).
Cap O’rushes (9/2) was the first Group race runner for new Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby and the New Approach colt duly gave him his first Group winner under Mickael Barzalona in the Gordon Stakes. The colt is now 10/1 for the St Leger in September with Ladbrokes.
It was a rough race and amazing to see how seven horses can find so much trouble. William Buick encountered several blocked paths aboard favourite Excess Knowledge (7/4f) and failed to get up by just a head after finally getting a clear run to the line all too late.
30 July 2013
Glorious Goodwood 2013: Day 1
A familiar pattern was re-established in the opening handicap race of Glorious Goodwood 2013 when the Hannon-Hughes partnership claimed the first victory of the week with Viewpoint (16/1). Both the trainer and jockey have an excellent record at the course and it could be another successful festival for them.
Viewpoint was almost last as the field passed the two furlong marker but Hughes brought his mount wide round the field and only hit the front inside the final half-furlong. Interestingly, Viewpoint remains an entry in the Betfred Mile on Friday.
Brown Sugar (8/1) under Pat Dobbs then immediately gave Richard Hannon a second win of the afternoon in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes, with the stable’s more fancied runner Anticipated (7/2) finishing fast and just a neck back in second place.
The feature race of the first day, the Lennox Stakes (Group 2), went to Richard Fahey’s Garswood (9/4f) in a tight finish, ridden by Ryan Moore. Just like Viewpoint in the opening race, Garswood was brought wide, round the field and only struck the front a few strides from the line.
Moore made it a winning double for the afternoon aboard Brazos (3/1) in the maiden stakes beating Mark Johnston’s Lyn Valley (8/1) by a neck.
Harris Tweed (14/1) was an impressive six-length winner of the Summer Handicap for trainer William Haggas and jockey George Baker. He was always near the head of the field and simply galloped away from his rivals.
There was no joy for punters in the ‘lucky last’. Tidal’s Bay (25/1) and Six Wives (20/1) were the first two home in the final handicap under very light weights but Cruise Tothelimit (7/1 jf) did claim third place for each-way money.
Viewpoint was almost last as the field passed the two furlong marker but Hughes brought his mount wide round the field and only hit the front inside the final half-furlong. Interestingly, Viewpoint remains an entry in the Betfred Mile on Friday.
Brown Sugar (8/1) under Pat Dobbs then immediately gave Richard Hannon a second win of the afternoon in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes, with the stable’s more fancied runner Anticipated (7/2) finishing fast and just a neck back in second place.
The feature race of the first day, the Lennox Stakes (Group 2), went to Richard Fahey’s Garswood (9/4f) in a tight finish, ridden by Ryan Moore. Just like Viewpoint in the opening race, Garswood was brought wide, round the field and only struck the front a few strides from the line.
Moore made it a winning double for the afternoon aboard Brazos (3/1) in the maiden stakes beating Mark Johnston’s Lyn Valley (8/1) by a neck.
Harris Tweed (14/1) was an impressive six-length winner of the Summer Handicap for trainer William Haggas and jockey George Baker. He was always near the head of the field and simply galloped away from his rivals.
There was no joy for punters in the ‘lucky last’. Tidal’s Bay (25/1) and Six Wives (20/1) were the first two home in the final handicap under very light weights but Cruise Tothelimit (7/1 jf) did claim third place for each-way money.
15 July 2013
Falmouth Result Under Appeal
The result of Newmarket’s Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes is to be appealed by connections of the runner-up Sky Lantern.
Sky Lantern (4/7f) was beaten by just a neck by Elusive Kate (3/1) in Friday’s race but was hampered in the closing stages by the winner, who hung left across the track.
Elusive Kate’s jockey William Buick was given a three-day ban for careless riding in the stewards’ enquiry which followed the race but the result of the race remained unaltered.
The stewards’ report read:
The Stewards held an enquiry under Rule (B)11.6 into possible interference from one and a half furlongs out. Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race they found that the winner, ELUSIVE KATE (USA), ridden by William Buick, had interfered with SKY LANTERN (IRE), placed second, ridden by Richard Hughes, and that the interference had not improved ELUSIVE KATE (USA)’s placing. They ordered the placings to remain unaltered. The Stewards found Buick in breach of Rule (B)54.1 and guilty of careless riding in that he allowed his mount to drift left. They suspended him for 3 days as follows: Friday 26, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 July 2013.
The Stewards noted that William Buick, the rider of ELUSIVE KATE, had struck the SKY LANTERN (IRE), across the nose once, one furlong out, but after viewing a recording of the incident they were satisfied that it was accidental.
It might seem strange that a jockey can be found guilty of careless riding and interfering with a rival but that the placings can remain unaltered when the winning margin is as small as a neck.
As a racegoer and a punter it is instructive to read the guidelines and questions the stewards consider when making their decision.
According to the BHA's rules, the stewards are required to consider “whether the sufferer [of the interference] would have beaten the interferer [i.e. causer of the interference] but for the interference.”
In attempting to do this the stewards should ask the following questions:
1. Where did the incident take place in relation to the winning post?
2. How were the horses involved in the interference going at the time of the incident?
3. How serious was the interference i.e. how much momentum did the sufferer lose and/or how much ground was lost?
4. If the sufferer had had an uninterrupted run to the line, might it have finished in front of the interferer?
If NO - order placings to remain unaltered
If YES i.e. there is some doubt - proceed to question 5.
5. How easily did the interferer beat the sufferer?
But more crucial in the deliberations are some of the guiding principles given to stewards. In particular:
Generally speaking, the longer the Panel discusses whether the placings should be altered, the less likely it is that they should be. If the Panel is unable to conclude one way or the other, the result should stand.
So, the longer it goes on, the less likely the result is to be changed. This should bring some comfort to those who have backed the first past the post next time there is a lengthy enquiry!
Remember: in amending the placings you are demoting the interferer not promoting the sufferer.
Other key guiding principles:
c) The benefit of doubt should go to the horse which finished in front.
Coupled with the idea above that the longer an enquiry goes on the less likely it is to alter the placings, this principle also explains when many ‘first past the post’ horses keep the race.
d) The Panel should have in mind that interference is likely to have impeded the sufferer to some degree and therefore a reversal of placings is more likely to follow where there is only a nose between the horses.
e) The further away from the winning post that the incident occurs, the less likely it is that the result should be changed.
i) If a horse is carried off its intended line, the effect will vary depending on the distance from the winning post.
One wonders whether or not technology might eventually take more of a part in determining the outcome of interference. In cricket hawk-eye tracks the path of the ball and predicts its trajectory had it not hit the batsman’s pad in LBW decisions.
In a similar fashion, would it not be possible to track a horse’s line of travel, speed at the time of interference, acceleration/deceleration, and extra distance travelled, in order to assess which horse would have gone past the post first had the interference not occurred?
Sky Lantern (4/7f) was beaten by just a neck by Elusive Kate (3/1) in Friday’s race but was hampered in the closing stages by the winner, who hung left across the track.
Elusive Kate’s jockey William Buick was given a three-day ban for careless riding in the stewards’ enquiry which followed the race but the result of the race remained unaltered.
The stewards’ report read:
The Stewards held an enquiry under Rule (B)11.6 into possible interference from one and a half furlongs out. Having heard their evidence and viewed recordings of the race they found that the winner, ELUSIVE KATE (USA), ridden by William Buick, had interfered with SKY LANTERN (IRE), placed second, ridden by Richard Hughes, and that the interference had not improved ELUSIVE KATE (USA)’s placing. They ordered the placings to remain unaltered. The Stewards found Buick in breach of Rule (B)54.1 and guilty of careless riding in that he allowed his mount to drift left. They suspended him for 3 days as follows: Friday 26, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 July 2013.
The Stewards noted that William Buick, the rider of ELUSIVE KATE, had struck the SKY LANTERN (IRE), across the nose once, one furlong out, but after viewing a recording of the incident they were satisfied that it was accidental.
It might seem strange that a jockey can be found guilty of careless riding and interfering with a rival but that the placings can remain unaltered when the winning margin is as small as a neck.
As a racegoer and a punter it is instructive to read the guidelines and questions the stewards consider when making their decision.
According to the BHA's rules, the stewards are required to consider “whether the sufferer [of the interference] would have beaten the interferer [i.e. causer of the interference] but for the interference.”
In attempting to do this the stewards should ask the following questions:
1. Where did the incident take place in relation to the winning post?
2. How were the horses involved in the interference going at the time of the incident?
3. How serious was the interference i.e. how much momentum did the sufferer lose and/or how much ground was lost?
4. If the sufferer had had an uninterrupted run to the line, might it have finished in front of the interferer?
If NO - order placings to remain unaltered
If YES i.e. there is some doubt - proceed to question 5.
5. How easily did the interferer beat the sufferer?
But more crucial in the deliberations are some of the guiding principles given to stewards. In particular:
Generally speaking, the longer the Panel discusses whether the placings should be altered, the less likely it is that they should be. If the Panel is unable to conclude one way or the other, the result should stand.
So, the longer it goes on, the less likely the result is to be changed. This should bring some comfort to those who have backed the first past the post next time there is a lengthy enquiry!
Remember: in amending the placings you are demoting the interferer not promoting the sufferer.
Other key guiding principles:
c) The benefit of doubt should go to the horse which finished in front.
Coupled with the idea above that the longer an enquiry goes on the less likely it is to alter the placings, this principle also explains when many ‘first past the post’ horses keep the race.
d) The Panel should have in mind that interference is likely to have impeded the sufferer to some degree and therefore a reversal of placings is more likely to follow where there is only a nose between the horses.
e) The further away from the winning post that the incident occurs, the less likely it is that the result should be changed.
i) If a horse is carried off its intended line, the effect will vary depending on the distance from the winning post.
One wonders whether or not technology might eventually take more of a part in determining the outcome of interference. In cricket hawk-eye tracks the path of the ball and predicts its trajectory had it not hit the batsman’s pad in LBW decisions.
In a similar fashion, would it not be possible to track a horse’s line of travel, speed at the time of interference, acceleration/deceleration, and extra distance travelled, in order to assess which horse would have gone past the post first had the interference not occurred?
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