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Given who’s available in the market, where does the value lay? Fallon was riding sporadically for them early in the season (Viscount Nelson in the Prix Du Jockey Club being one), however with the international jockeys in Soumillion and Peslier both currently relatively unattached, would they be a more viable option?
Or stay closer to home, and try and poach one of Ireland’s up and coming jockeys? Declan McDonagh, Fran Berry have both shown tremendous promise.
Or stay loyal to one of the current jockeys at Ballydoyle? Colm O’ Donoghue got the ride on StarSpangledBanner when J. Murtagh stayed in Ireland to ride Rip Van Winkle in the Irish Champion Stakes, whereas Seamy Heffernan seems to be even lower down the pecking order.
A dark horse could be Richard Hughes, who has a simply outstanding year, finishing a close fought second in the British Jockey’s Championship. Although he may not want the hassle and pressure.
To summarise, anyone have any info? I think Peslier would be perfect, but cannot see him joining forces. For some reason, my gut feeling has me thinking they might want a ‘safe pair of hands’ for a couple of years until a long term alternative is available, which means I can see King Kieren once again reigning supreme.
It simply won’t be Fallon. Coolmore stuck by him during the trial but the drugs ban was the last straw. They won’t have him back.
I can’t see it being anyone other than an Irish jockey. I just can’t picture the likes of Soumillon or Peslier settling down in Tipperary and riding around Ballinrobe on a wet Tuesday evening. Moore is the only English jockey worth mentioning and I doubt he’d leave Stoute and relocate to Ireland.
The shortlist as I see it:
Colm O’Donoghue – underrated rider who has been with the yard for a good few years. I’d say he’s the most likely choice with Smullen out of the running.
Fran Berry – champion jockey, has ridden for the yard before and has connections to Coolmore through his father. Would be reluctant to leave Oxx though after waiting behind Kinane for years.
Richard Hughes – massive experience having ridden for Khalib Abdullah and has received spares from Ballydoyle in the past. Settled in England and son-in-law to his current employer so might find it hard to leave England and return home.
Jamie Spencer – had a miserable time of it during his previous stint in the job but has blossomed since then and still receives spares on Ballydoyle runners. God-son of John Magnier and may be more inclined to return home now that he’s seperated from his wife.
Seámus Heffernan – has been with the yard for donkey’s years and has ridden plenty of Group 1 winners and top class horses. Seems to have slipped behind O’Donoghue in the pecking order though.
Wayne Lordan – talented rider who has ridden sporadically for Aidan in the past. Has ridden plenty of winners in the Coolmore colours for both David Wachman and Tommy Stack.
Declan McDonogh – former champion jockey and one of the best domestic riders in the mould of Fallon. Has a strong partnership with Kevin Prendergast but it would be hard to resist the lure of Ballydoyle.
Jimmy Fortune – the interesting dark horse for me. Has fallen off the radar since getting the boot from Gosden’s but he has plenty of big race experience and winners. Aidan is also a fan – gave him the spare ride on Rip Van Winkle at Sandown last year. I’m sure he’d jump at the chance to come home.
I think it’s looking like O’Donoghue now that DK has ruled Smullen out. Lordan and Fortune the dark horses for me.
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I’d like to see someone like Queally, Moore or Smullen (ruled out now). Why would they take it though when they have good rides already and a job for life where they are.
Kieran has been riding for Luca and don’t think he’d give up that arrangement this late in his career.
I think that Colm O’Donoghue will get the job for the next year or so, not like they have a great deal (by their standards) to look forward too next year in comparison to other stables and he can get in without much pressure.
I’m not sure Queally would be welcomed back to Ballydoyle. Aidan thought a lot of him but Queally was keen to go to England and was only apprentice there for about a year.
Quote from Sunday Times interview, Tom Queally w/Donn McClean:
“I could have stayed at Aidan’s,” he says. “And Aidan was very good to me. But I always had it in the back of my mind to try England. If I had never given it a go, I would have regretted it, I would have always wondered how I might have done.”
http://donnmcclean.com/2010/07/25/tom-queally/The more I think about Jimmy Fortune, the more sense it makes. He was with Jim Bolger around the same time Aidan was there and both of them are Wexford men. I’ve had a cheeky nibble at SkyBet’s 66/1!
I can’t see it not going to an irishman. Hughes won’t leave Hannon, not as he is in the family.
Surely comes down to Colm, Fallon, McDonagh and Fortune?
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I love the odds quotes offered by William Hill – not least the 50-1 against Mike Smith!!
Think that they will still try and get a big name. But if not, I really rate Colm O’Donoghue, and think he is at least as good as any other jockey currently riding in Ireland. While next year’s 3yr old look weak the 4+ year old certainly aren’t, so while the classics may not be achievable other big Gp1’s are. The advantage in Colm is that he already knows the horses and the best way to ride them.
In my opinion would be a mistake to give Saemus Heffernan the role, excellent horseman and able to get a horse settled, but isn’t the jockey you want in a tight finish. They could do worse than give him next years 2yr olds in the maidens.The position is usually the preserve of an Irish Jockey.
I have a feeling that Ballydoyle may break with that tradition and employ a Belgian as their number one jockey.
Christophe Soumillon, sacked by the Aga Khan for comments he made about trainer, Andre Fabre’s height (
), would be an inspired and wise choice. He is a top class jockey, has nerves of steel, is super cool on the big occasion and is a winner. In short, he would be my pick.Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
I might be putting 2 and 2 together to make 5 but Fallon was declared to ride Dysios for Luca Cumani tomorrow, but he is now to be ridden by Guillambert, as is Cumanis only runner on Thursday.
Just had a little nibble at Fallon for the job.
Possibly contract talks ?
Can’t believe that they would go for him again and therefore only small stakes betHow about a world class jockey for Saturday or for overseas rides and the Group One races in Ireland? Vincent had an arrangement like that for Piggot and Eddery. For Sundays in France get the best available.
Imperial Call
I’m not sure Queally would be welcomed back to Ballydoyle. Aidan thought a lot of him but Queally was keen to go to England and was only apprentice there for about a year.I don’t know either of these two gentlemen, but would Mr O’Brien really have a lost-lasting grudge against an apprentice who had the ambition, confidence and energy to go abroad to further his career?
Himself
Christophe Soumillon, sacked by the Aga Khan for comments he made about trainer, Andre Fabre’s height, would be an inspired and wise choice.I think the incident with Andre Fabre was about the fiftieth problem that the Aga Khan had with Monsieur Soumillon. I think he had decided that once it got to fifty he had to do something about it. He certainly has the talent, but Coolmore is a very professional outfit who would not appreciate any indescretions. Also, it was only about a month ago that he signed a contract to ride for the Wildensteins next year. If he was to be bought out of that contract, it would be difficult for him to return to France.
Imperial Call
I’m not sure Queally would be welcomed back to Ballydoyle. Aidan thought a lot of him but Queally was keen to go to England and was only apprentice there for about a year.I don’t know either of these two gentlemen, but would Mr O’Brien really have a lost-lasting grudge against an apprentice who had the ambition, confidence and energy to go abroad to further his career?
Himself
Christophe Soumillon, sacked by the Aga Khan for comments he made about trainer, Andre Fabre’s height, would be an inspired and wise choice.I think the incident with Andre Fabre was about the fiftieth problem that the Aga Khan had with Monsieur Soumillon. I think he had decided that once it got to fifty he had to do something about it. He certainly has the talent, but Coolmore is a very professional outfit who would not appreciate any indescretions. Also, it was only about a month ago that he signed a contract to ride for the Wildensteins next year. If he was to be bought out of that contract, it would be difficult for him to return to France.
So who do you think will get the gig sir?
So who do you think will get the gig sir?
Richard Hughes. But only for a year. He has all the necessary attributes, and I think that one year would suit both parties well. Coolmore will look for a long term replacement over the next 12 months, it might need that long to prise someone away from their top class current job. Hughes has a chance of a lot of Group 1 glory in his homeland, without the two meetings a day, helicopter trips to evening meetings, etc.
Coggy – well spotted, could be significant. I could see it ending in tears again though.
Interesting to note that Paddy Power have added Julien Leparoux into their betting at 10/1.
Surely Moore wouldn’t leave Stoute with Workforce staying in training and the year he’s just had at Freemason Lodge.
If I was having a bet on the outcome I think it will be
FALLON
!! I think business comes before all else at Ballydoyle/Coolmore and I think they’ll want the best around.
Imperial Call
I’m not sure Queally would be welcomed back to Ballydoyle. Aidan thought a lot of him but Queally was keen to go to England and was only apprentice there for about a year.I don’t know either of these two gentlemen, but would Mr O’Brien really have a lost-lasting grudge against an apprentice who had the ambition, confidence and energy to go abroad to further his career?
Queally went to Ballydoyle with a massive reputation from the pony circuit. Aidan thought a lot of him and he was being groomed as a future no1 but he left very quickly for England. He also had a very public falling out with Pat Flynn about ten years ago which did not do his reputation in Ireland any good.
I doubt he’ll ever come back here to ride. If you look at all the contenders for the job now outside of Heffernan and O’Donoghue – Berry, McDonogh, Hughes, Lordan, Fortune, Spencer; they have all ridden horses for Ballydoyle in Group 1s in recent years (even Fallon & Soumillon have had rides for them as recently as this summer and Peslier has ridden a classic winner for the yard – Saffron Walden ’99 Guineas at the Curragh). I may be wrong on this, but I don’t think Queally has had a single ride for Ballydoyle in recent years.
Aidan is such a perfectionist that he’ll want a jockey who can ride out at Ballydoyle regularly so whoever gets the gig will have to base themselves in Ireland. I just can’t imagine the likes of Soumillon, Peslier or any of the American based names mentioned settling down in Tipperary on the side of a boreen between Cashel and Clonmel.
I think they’ll get an experienced, safe name in to do a job for a few years – Fortune or Hughes for me although Smullen would have been perfect. I think they’ll also be on the hunt for a young name who they can groom to take over the job in the long term – someone like Gary Carroll, Chris Hayes or Keegan Latham. Joseph is a non-runner here because his weight will become an issue and I’d imagine he’ll end up riding over jumps in the future like his cousin.
Smullen – No, Weld has told us he is staying put
Soumillon – No, can’t see him coming over to live in Tipp and ride out everyday at O’Briens. I doubt he be excited by O’Briens current crop of 2 y/o
Berry – No, he has waited years for his chance at Oxx’s. He also has a good thing going with riding Jessies big ones
Hughes – No, he has stated that he will stay at Hannons a few more years before taking out his trainers license.
Moore – No, he would never leave Stoute
Peslier – No, see Soumillon.
Buick – No, cant see him moving over here. He has a good thing going with Gosden
Spencer – No, not good enough same goes for Fortune, Hayes, LordanFallon is a possibility. Tabor is a huge fan of his. Would the rest be ready to give him another chance?
I personally think it will be Colm O’Donoghue promoted to the job. Seamie Heffernan will probably get the pick of the maidens or maybe there will be some sort of rotation policy between the two
), would be an inspired and wise choice. He is a top class jockey, has nerves of steel, is super cool on the big occasion and is a winner. In short, he would be my pick.
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