Crowley Calls It: “Elwazir is more than capable of winning first time up”
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Champion Jockey shares his insight ahead of busy weekend
I’m really looking forward to riding Ulysses in the Arc. Although to be honest I haven’t thought about it that much as I’ve also got an important few days at Newmarket coming up which I’ve got to focus on first.
I’ve got to get the job done. It’s not as if I’m going off on my holidays, it’s a really busy time at work.
It’s exciting too though as I’ve picked up some great rides. I’ve been asked to ride Unfortunately in the Middle Park which is a great spare to pick up. He was impressive winning in France last time.
I’m looking forward to riding Thundering Blue in the Cambridgeshire although I’m on a bit of a starvation diet at the moment as he’s got 8 stone 7 lbs to carry which is rock bottom for me.
I did 8 stone 8 lbs on him last time when he won well at Sandown. I think he’s got a great chance.
He’s drawn 20 which should be fine.
The last time I did 8 stone 7 lbs in the Cambridgeshire the horse won, a horse called Credit Swap. I’m hoping Thundering Blue can develop into a Group horse. That’s how highly I think of him.
Jim’s Friday Newmarket rides
I haven’t ridden her before. It’s a nice ride to pick up for the owners, Cheveley Park.
It’s a decent race but William Haggas’ horses are in good order, and she looks like she should have a decent chance. Hopefully she’ll run well.
James Doyle has ridden her on both of her two starts but he’s chosen to ride Nyaleti which I’m obviously pleased about.
James said that it was a tough decision, so it’s a great spare to pick up as she’s won both her starts.
He was a good winner at York last time in the Strensall Stakes.
I’ve also won on Beat The Bank who lines up against us and is a really good horse.
It’s a competitive race and certainly a harder spot than last time but I do really like Mustashry and I think he’ll run really well. He’s a lovely horse that is going the right way.
He’s by Frankel and can be a bit hot at home. We are hoping for a nice run.
It’s a bit like his first day at school and I don’t want him to have a bad experience, particularly given how he is at home.
He’s more than capable of winning first time up, but the priority is for him to have a nice time, and if he can win then great.
We also have Tahreek in the race but the team always leave it up to me to decide which horse to ride when we have more than one to choose from. However on this occasion it wasn’t a difficult decision.
Everyone wanted me to ride Elwazir as he’s so well bred, and I did too as I’ve ridden him in his work and know what he’s capable of and also want to ensure he has nice time in his first race.
I’m really looking forward to riding him and hopefully he’ll be a horse for the future.
On Wednesday night there was a race where the boss had three in the same race and I decided to ride a horse that hadn’t been going the best of them at home, but had already had a run.
I figured that a run was probably worth about 6lbs versus running for the first time. The other two horses were unraced, and so I picked the horse with experience and it worked out right as he won.
If they ran against each other in a month’s time the unraced horses might well then finish in front.
I rode him last time at Doncaster where he ran a really good race and he’ll have come on a lot for that.
He’s a decent horse that’s run in some top class races. Hopefully he’s just coming back to himself.
He ran well last time at Ascot, and the time before in the July meeting, so I see no reason why he won’t run well again.
He’s drawn well in stall eight and acts on the ground. He should give me a great ride in what is obviously a very competitive race.
Jim
