Crowley Calls it: “It’s a big step for Emaraaty – he has a lot to live up to.”
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Champion Jockey takes us through his Saturday schedule
It’s been a great season for me. I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better really. But this week ahead is probably the most important of all.
They say you should always save the best till last and with these next two days at Newmarket, Champions Day next weekend and then The Breeders Cup round the corner, this really is a massive end to the season for me.
Hopefully there are still some nice races to be won.
And now of course we’ve had the news that Ulysses might run in the Champion Stakes as well as the Breeders Cup. He’s obviously come out of the Arc in tip-top form and if he was to line up in the Champion he’d have a favourite’s chance.
A mile and a quarter appears to be his best trip although he has run very well over a mile and a half. I have some good rides in the pipeline for Champions Day as a whole so I’ve a lot to look forward to next weekend.
I haven’t made any specific travel plans for The Breeders Cup particularly with Ulysses possibly running on Champions Day.
So I will leave that until nearer the time. There’s also a chance that I might be going to Melbourne so there are exciting times coming up. I’ve been so lucky.
I’ve had a great season and I’ve got to the position where if there’s a good spare ride available in a big race some of them are coming my way.
But first and foremost I have a big day at Newmarket tomorrow so I’m just focusing on that.
Jim’s Saturday rides
He is a good horse this. We thought he’d run well first time out but he disappointed.
However he then came out and won really well at Sandown. It may only have been a four runner race but it was a good race and he won well.
He’s beautifully bred and a lovely big stamp of a horse. Yes, it’s a competitive race, and the Godolphin horse Ghaiyyath was really impressive when he won.
But I really like my horse and I’m looking forward to riding him. He’s always shown a decent amount of ability in his work at home.
This is the most important two-year-old race in the season in my opinion.
Expert Eye looked very good when he won at Goodwod, and we are also taking on a Middle Park winner and a Champagne Stakes winner.
It’s a big step up for Emaraaty as he’s only won a maiden. He has a lot to live up to, particularly the very expensive price tag around his neck, but he’s a very, very good horse and he’s been working nicely. He deserves to take his chance and we are hopeful of a big run.
At Sandown first time up he was very babyish and immature, very green.
Then at Newbury he knew his job, he knew why he was at the races, and he did it well. He’s in with the big boys now and we’ll see where we are with him.
Whatever he does in the Dewhurst he’s a horse who will improve next season.
Expert Eye is a beautiful looking horse and he was visually very impressive at Goodwood. The form has worked out really well too with James Garfield winning the Mill Reef since. He is the horse to beat but it will be his biggest test to date too.
I’m looking forward to this immensely. I would love to win a Cesarewitch. Jump trainers have got a good record in the race, and John Constable is a brilliant ride to pick up for Evan Williams.
He won the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock and then the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen , so he looks like he has an obvious chance.
He’s drawn well and I know it’s a long distance race but the draw is important. You don’t want to be travelling round out wide, so a low draw helps get a good position through the race.
She has been a revelation. I remember riding her early on in the season at Chelmsford over a mile and she didn’t give me the nicest of rides.
I suggested bringing her back in trip, almost as a last chance to try and get some form to show for her, and since she’s been running over six furlongs she’s improved no end.
She won very impressively last time at Salisbury and she’s stepping up to Listed class now and hopefully she can get some black type with her.
Charlie has done a great job with her and I’m really looking forward to riding her.
He won at York over a mile and a half, and then ran second at Newbury over 1m2f. He’s coming back in trip again in this race.
He’s a big horse and he loves to get rolling. I imagine he will be on the front end and I’m sure he’s going to run a big race. I hear he’s been working very well so I’m looking forward to riding him.
Jim
