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Fallon appears to have distanced himself from the job claiming he hasn’t spoken to O’Brien in six months and hasn’t been spoken to about the job.
It seems Soumillon is emerging as the primary candidate.
I can’t see the bolshie Belgian and the introverted Irishman hitting it off myself but you never know, opposites do sometimes attract.
There seems to be no betting available, as the market has gone from oddschecker. Any news?
Hi JJM
The only update I know is that Boylesports have moved Soumillon overnight from 11/8 in to 8/13. Might be significantJohnny Murtagh will partner Aidan O’Brien’s Recital in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on Saturday.
The Montjeu colt interestingly won the same Navan maiden as top-class stable companion Fame And Glory, who subsequently claimed this French Group One on his next start.
While soon-to-depart stable jockey Murtagh receives the leg-up on Recital, O’Brien has a couple of other contenders in Obligation, partnered by Colm O’Donoghue, and the Seamie Heffernan-ridden Exodus.
http://www.irishracing.com/v5newsitem?prid=49142
Doesn’t bode well for Colm or Seámus’ prospects of getting the job.
Exodus was very impressive when ridden from the front by Seamie at Navan. Obligation was a little in and out in his most recent races.
- Total Posts 17716
Today’s domestic action at The Curragh surely gives us a significant pointer as to Ballydoyle’s likely policy. It’s the first important Irish card of the year, as we start to see the potentially big 4yo and 3yo guns being fired.
In the listed Loughbrown (Guineas Trial), the highly promising
Sing Softly
has
Colm O’Donoghue
on board, whilst in the Alleged (older horse prep.)
Seamie Heffernan
gets the call for
St Nicholas Abbey
. A division of gifts, in other words: and, significantly, no place for
Joseph O’Brien
on either. Nor have any of the touted English or French-based riders been invited over to take these rides.
It remains to be seen what the policy is for Group 1 days, at home or abroad. But assuming these two horses prove up to running in those Group 1s, what is the likely result of chopping and changing jockeys on good horses?
Depends on who is changed and who is chopped and how big the occasion.Trouble is if a group one type jockey wins and if a non group one jockey is beaten the conclusion about the quality of the horse is different.Also if a non group one jockey wins you may think where to go next? Will I employ a group one jockey and go for the big time or stay with the local lad and lets see what happens?I mean the jockey helps establish the horse.Also feedback from a good jockey is very important.Most big stables employ big race jockeys and for a reason.Would Nicholls be better without Walsh or Henderson without Geraghty?Probably not.The present jockeys at Ballydoyle have not been established in their own right ie away from that yard.As for the trainer, he gets the blame if the jockey makes a mistake and he is not a group one jockey.Such lessor jockeys are expected to make mistakes .
- Total Posts 17716
In the listed Loughbrown (Guineas Trial), the highly promising
Sing Softly
has
Colm O’Donoghue
on board, whilst in the Alleged (older horse prep.)
Seamie Heffernan
gets the call for
St Nicholas Abbey
. A division of gifts, in other words: and, significantly, no place for
Joseph O’Brien
on either.
I wasn’t quite fair to the trainer’s even-handedness, as son Joseph had the leg up on a colt who could be just as exciting as
Sing Softly
looked in the Loughbrown: the debutant
Mastership
won more or less as he liked from a huge field in the 3yo maiden later in the card, with the trainer’s son in the plate. Should be one to watch, despite the slow time.
Heffernan is brilliant riding from the front.Both have still to prove themselves,i.e. if they were riding for other yards like Stack and Prendergast would Ballydoyle be rushing in to employ them as first jockey? I don’t think so.
Perhaps an expansive use of the word evenhanded.So all three jockeys are equally qualified to ride the stable horses? Which is exactly the issue at hand.
Young O Brien looking better even race….me thing it wont be long for him to pick up a big ride in a big race
I can’t think of a big successful stable that doesn’t have a top-notch regular jockey. I think this year is going to be quiet one for Ballydoyle, which is a shame as they seem to have more good horses than last year and have made a stronger start to the season.
Hopefully, someone will drag this prediction out in October and ridicule it!
On the contrary Aji I believe this will be a big year for Ballydoyle. They have Saville,Recital,Roderic O’Connor,Zoffany,Master of Hounds,Alexander Pope,and Exodus amongst their three year olds who have already been to the track and some nice older horses also.
On the contrary Aji I believe this will be a big year for Ballydoyle. They have Saville,Recital,Roderic O’Connor,Zoffany,Master of Hounds,Alexander Pope,and Exodus amongst their three year olds who have already been to the track and some nice older horses also.
I know, but who’s going to ride them in the Derby, Royal Ascot, the big group 1’s in France …? A good horse needs a good jockey in the big international G1’s, because there’s lots of other good horses with good jockeys in the race.
That is Ballydoyle’s problem.Messrs Smith, Magnier, Tabor and Hay have enough money and brains to figure out the riding arrangements.Right now it looks like Fallon is the one in the catbird seat.That is my opinion.Spencer rides for Hay I suppose though he did not cover himself in glory in Dubai.He is not involved with the 3yos.
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