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That is a slight cheek coming from Dandy Nicholls, I agree!
We’ll have to agree to disagree over Thomas – although his win on Denman was great I personally do not feel that it proved he was a great jockey; plenty of halfway decent jockeys would also win on such a beast. I also stand by my opinions of the unseats of Big Buck’s and Kauto Star as well I’m afraid – IMO he far from covered himself in glory and could have avoided each situation or at the very least ensured they were not as serious as they were, resulting in him being unshipped from each.
What you say about controlling half a ton of horse GWilson, is all very well,
but could they do it with your poise and charm, holding a glass of wine in one hand, a TV remote control in the other with Victoria admiring you from afar?What you say about controlling half a ton of horse GWilson, is all very well,
but could they do it with your poise and charm, holding a glass of wine in one hand, a TV remote control in the other with Victoria admiring you from afar?KEN,
Unfortunately, Victoria has since married Silvestre de souza, but that
gal could ride, i remember cheering her home on Danzig River up at Beverley one sunday afternoon, i recall Dandy trained the 1st 3 home that day! What a trainer! just watch "Inxile" develop into a Group horse this year! and by the way i dont joke about my respect for Jockeys, just the travelling to and from racecourses day in, day out, all over the country is enough to do your head in, never mind about the thought of great pain
when they part company with their mounts! No as much as the thought of me and Shadow racing 2 miles over the National fences might appeal to you, i am quite happy to remain the Armchair Expert, the only injury i occasionally suffer is a dent to my confidence when an Ante-post runner
doesn"t make the line up! Come on "Albertas"!!Tough one this – I’ll play Devil’s Advocate;
There are 2 equally importants stances with this
1, A Trainer must do the best for his owners/Horse – if that means Ruby takes the ride, so be it.
2, A sense of loyalty to the jockey(Sam Thomas) – remember, who was the jockey who chose not to ride Denman in the Gold Cup – after that should he ride the horse again?
Could it be that Sam has lost his confidence and everyone is doing their best to help him through it; it’s not much fun riding horses when all people are interested in is whether you’re going to fall off [mind you, Ruby copes with that when riding Kauto Star!] Paul Nicholls is a trainer of horses not a barrister and it’s easy to say the wrong thing sometimes
. I guess this is what happens when your yard and it’s inmates
are the focus of media attention the whole time.
Of course Thomas has lost his confidence, Nicholls has made sure of that with his "Big Buck’s would have won the Hennessey but for Thomas" outburst the other week. Initially (in December), Nicholls probably did the correct thing in taking Thomas off Master Minded in the Tingle Creek. But surely, a couple months down the line and after getting back on some Nicholls winners, is not the time to shoot Thomas again?
And like Equitrack says, it does make me want to see some form of bad Karma befall Barber, Findlay and Nicholls. If they cant handle "the pressure of the media" then they shouldn’t train good horses.
In football the best managers always know how to handle there stars and the media.
Yes he made mistakes and he’s paid for them but how on earth is he supposed to move on when he’s still being reminded of the error of his ways
.Not the best motivational tactics!Still, it doesn’t surprise me. The more I find out about the way people who work in racing can be treated, the more I despair
.McCoy cut to partner Denman in Gold Cup
By James Burn6.24PM 3 FEB 2009 Racing Post WebsiteIF money talks Denman will have a new rider as he attempts to retain his Gold Cup crown at Cheltenham next month.
Paddy Power have opened a market on who will ride the talented nine-year-old and report all the money has been for champion jockey Tony McCoy.
McCoy was available to back at 5-1 when the market was formed, with Sam Thomas, who has ridden Denman in three of his last four races, the odds-on favourite.
“There’s been plenty of money for McCoy. He opened at 5-1 and was then 7-2 and there’s been more money. We’ve not seen a penny for anyone
else.“We put Thomas as favourite because he was the incumbent but nobody knew who should be favourite. Some people thought it should be Walsh, some thought it should be Thomas and some thought McCoy
“So far they all want to back McCoy and punters think he’ll have the action if he wants it.”
Not good news for Sam if there is any truth behind this market move.
McCoy cut to partner Denman in Gold Cup
By James Burn6.24PM 3 FEB 2009 Racing Post WebsiteIF money talks Denman will have a new rider as he attempts to retain his Gold Cup crown at Cheltenham next month.
Paddy Power have opened a market on who will ride the talented nine-year-old and report all the money has been for champion jockey Tony McCoy.
McCoy was available to back at 5-1 when the market was formed, with Sam Thomas, who has ridden Denman in three of his last four races, the odds-on favourite.
"There’s been plenty of money for McCoy. He opened at 5-1 and was then 7-2 and there’s been more money. We’ve not seen a penny for anyone
else.McCoy is now 7/4 to ride Denman in the Gold Cup! thats a lot of money
talking and i dont like the idea one bit! If A.P does ride "the Machine"
then the source of information will have to be A.P confirming with Mr Findlay that he will accept the ride and Mr Findlays people pollitely
asking Paddy Power for a price, the rest is history!
A.P is not renowned for having a loose tongue, he is also very loyal to his own connections and i am sure if A.P thought Exotic had the slightest chance of winning the Gold Cup he wouldn"t desert him.However if A.P
thought "Albertas" had a better chance than Exotic then he would still be riding for the stable, which would be acceptable with J.J,o-neills owners!
Its another amazing twist to the saga of poor Sam Thomas and the goings
on in the P,Nicholls yard, i am sure if Sam had issues with himself he would have said so, unfortunately it seems his so called Allies have! If i
was Mr Findlay and i knew Sam was "himself" then i would be standing by
the jockey that filled rubys boots to a tee when he needed to last season,
the words called loyalty and its time some of the faith was rekindled!Couldn’t agree more – i nearly vomited when i read Paul Barber explain that he was glad Walsh was aboard, even though he may well desert The Tank AGAIN on Gold Cup day, as "i’ve known Ruby since he was seven". And???
This is smacking more and more of being about if your face fits, I wonder what Harry really does make of all this. Its leaving me with a sour taste and i feel a bit like Equitrack, i must admit.
withough wishing harm to any people or horses I would love to see Sam come out and win something amazing like the Grand National; a touch of hubris is needed in all this methinks….
Hello,
I feel I must make a point for the majority that inhabit this earth in what ever life style…
There is absolutely nothing wrong with being Avearge or Mediocre, trust me, I excell at both…
Sam has proved he is reasonable at his trade, but not Great, so what?
For, to be fair, a tad above average jockey he has reached incredible heights, but just because he hasn’t been able to maintain the required standard doesn’t mean he cannot be proud of his acheivements. There maybe further opportunities for him in the future.Conversely you cannot lambast Nicholls, Findlay etc. for wanting the best they can afford, wouldn’t anybody??
You cannot employ anyone to do a task simply because he is a nice guy..I type as a master of mediocrity, I am neither ashamed or proud, I just am..but I do admire people who excell at their trade, and of course I am also pleased about people who have had, shall we say, a bit of luck, or being in the right place at the right time to lift themselves from Planet Average…
regards,
doyley
….. i am sure if A.P thought Exotic had the slightest chance of winning the Gold Cup he wouldn"t desert him.
I don’t think Exotic Dancer will even run in the Gold Cup – connections know he cannot beat either Kauto or Denman.
I see ED going to the Ryanair which would potentially leave AP without a ride in the Gold Cup.
As Doyley points out you cannot blame connections for wanting the best available jockey.
Of course another scenario clould be Ruby rides Denman and AP Kauto Star.
No, Christian Williams will be on Neptune Collonges I would guess. Which leaves Sam to sit in the weighing room.
Have to disagree re Exotic Dancer not going for the Gold Cup though. If he wins on Sunday then I cant imagine Jonjo and Robert Ogden would bypass the Gold Cup. The temptation would be too strong, especially as he only has a length or two to make up on Kauto Star on the Gold Cup 2 years ago.
.Not the best motivational tactics!
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