Crowley Calls It: “She could well outrun her odds once again”
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The Champion Jockey previews his rides on day two of the July Festival at Newmarket after an opening day treble
I begin the day on Fawaareq for the boss, Sheikh Hamdan. He was a progressive type last year, and I rode him for the first time at Haydock in April. It was a good race but a bit messy, and he got bumped, but considering he was a bit keen, I thought he ran very well. He’s had a break since then, but as things didn’t go quite right then, I think there are enough reasons to believe he can run a good race here.
I rode Mistress Of Venice at Royal Ascot, and she belied her 66-1 odds to finish fourth that day so I’m pleased to be on her again. As you’d expect this is a decent race, with the field headed by the Chesham runner-up Clemmie for Aidan O’Brien, but she gave me a good feel at Ascot, seemed to have her mind on the job, and she could well outrun her odds once again.
The Group One feature is the Falmouth Stakes, and I’m delighted to have picked up the ride on Greta G for John Gosden. She was a very good filly in Argentina, but didn’t have the clearest of runs at Royal Ascot, and in what is obviously a tough race as a Group One should be, I hope she can do herself justice. It looks wide open, with all those ahead of her in the betting in with a shout.
In the nursery I’ve picked up a good ride for Richard Hannon, on Elysium Dream. He’s owned by a group including some of the England cricketers, so I might get a day out at Lord’s if I win on him! He ran a very good race in the Chesham, and with Richard’s horses running well I’d be hopeful of a decent run here.
I end the day with rides in both divisions of the maiden, and in both cases they are making their racecourse debuts. In the first I’m on Chaparral Prince for Charlie Hills. I’ve been down to Charlie’s to ride out, he’s got a nice bunch of two-year-olds, so hopefully he’s one of them! And in the second division I’m on Ibraz for the boss. I’ve ridden him at home, and he goes nicely, and although you never know what might be lurking in these Newmarket maidens, he’s ready to run and hopefully he’ll run a nice race.
This is an exciting time of the year, as the two-year-olds start their careers, and I begin to build a pecking order in my mind with one eye on the future. Sheikh Hamdan has so many lovely horses, and when I’m riding out and sit on a good one, it goes straight in the horse tracker, so watch this space!
