Crowley Calls It: “I am sure she will give a good account of herself”
The Champion Jockey gives you the inside track on his weekend rides at Newmarket and Curragh
It was obviously disappointing not to ride a winner at Royal Ascot last week. However on the plus side, a lot of my horses ran really well. It just goes to show how difficult it is to have winners at the meeting. There are a lot of good jockeys who did not ride a winner, and the likes of Sir Michael Stoute and other big trainers didn’t have a winner either. I felt I was drawn on the wrong side in the Norfolk Stakes, where Santry beat everything on his side comfortably. Tasleet ran a blinder and more than half the horses I rode finished in the first four. It is frustrating, but that is how these big meetings go sometimes.
Saturday
Sir Michael Stoute has two horses in the race and I am on the second string here. I have spoken to Ryan Moore about the horse and he likes him. He has been off the track for a while but hopefully he can run well.
I like this filly. She bypassed the Albany to come here. The form of her win on her debut has worked out nicely. It is a competitive race because I think a few people have missed Ascot for this. She did it really nicely first time out. She won despite still showing signs of greenness so I’d like to think she’ll come on for that run too. I am very hopeful.
This was a tough decision to ride Thikriyaat as Ibn Malik is also in the race and I had the option of riding either of them. Ibn Malik runs very well fresh so it would be no surprise to see him run well. I decided to opt for Thikriyaat because on his last run it looked like he was coming back to form. It is worth bearing in mind he would not want it too soft but at the moment the track is drying out.
He ran in a nice maiden at Newbury on his opening start. I haven’t ridden this horse yet but it was a good race. Ed Dunlop’s horses normally improve from their opening run. It is hard to know what to make of this race as all the other horses are making their debut. It looks like there are some nice pedigrees in the race but hopefully my horse can progress.
4.55 Newmarket – Staff College
I don’t know much about this horse but the Queen’s runner Swiftsure will be the one to beat here. We’ll obviously give it our best shot and hope we can be in the frame.
This a nice filly which is actually owned by Sheikh Hamdan’s daughter. She won well at Goodwood last time but this is a tougher task for her. I am sure she will give a good account of herself though.
Sunday
This is a nice ride to pick up in the Pretty Polly Stakes. She ran well at Ascot in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes where she finished fourth over a mile. That was a bit short for her so she is back up in trip here. The trip and track are right for her, it is just a case of whether she is up to this level and I think she is.
Jim
