Know Our Visiting Jockeys Better |
| I looked at the Sunday Mumbai card. There are several new faces in the jockeys’ colony. All the names are well-recognized ones and these are riders who can hold their own in any setting. The information I am giving you was obtained from varied sources on the web. Please note that I do not have career statistics. Whatever I consider relevant is being mentioned here. Let us begin with Rory Cleary. He had 370 rides this year in Ireland. He won nine races for a 2% strike rate. His winners earned 146,650 pounds. Cleary’s mounts earned a total prize money of 280,043. There would have been a 256.00 loss with a level stake of one pound on each of Cleary-ridden horses. Jockey Cleary began riding in 2003. His first winner, Keen Look, came in his eighth ride at Fairyhouse in August 2003, a course outside of Dublin. Cleary’s second win came two months later. Mango Catcher was the horse and the track was Gowran Park. Mango Catcher’s win was at an emotional time in young Cleary’s career. Four days earlier, Sean (Rory’s brother) had died of head injuries sustained in a fall at Galway. In 2004, Cleary, with three wins, was the leading jockey at the Galway Festival. Cleary won the McDonogh Handicap with Palace Star at that meeting. In 2008, Cleary had 27 wins. He rode 30 winners in 2007. Cleary’s biggest career win came in the Grade III Phoenix Stakes. Snaefell was the horse’s name. Here is what I was able to collect on Adrian Nicholls. David ‘Dandy’ Nicholls is Adrian’s father. David Nicholls is a specialist when it comes to training sprinters. This year, Adrian won a Group I race in September. He was aboard Regal Parade, a 14-1 chance and a horse trained by his father, who won the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park. Regal Parade beat Fleeting Spirit that day and the latter is one of the premier sprinting stars in Europe. Jockey Nicholls won Newcastle’s Northumberland Plate last year with Arc Bleu. He is one in the top drawer no matter how you look at it. In 2009, Adrian won 45 races from 392 starts. That gave him a 11% strike rate. His winners brought him 408,597 pounds. His mounts earned 649,744. There was a 128.62 loss on a level stake of one pound. Adrian made several trips to Ireland and won four races there from 10 outings. Next comes James Doyle. In 2009, he had 28 winners from 379 starts for a 7% strike rate. His winners netted 87,811 and his total prize money was 186,665. You would have lost 130.75 if you had wagered one pound on every one of Doyle’s mounts. Jockey Doyle also has a jumps license. On November 11, at Kempton Park, Doyle connected with Gentle Guru, a 20-1 chance, in a 1200-metre race. Note the name, Gentle Guru. Jockey Doyle has an affinity for India. Doyle will be a great presence in any weighing room. Paul Mulrennan had a collarbone injury and the change of environment should do him a world of good. A fully healed Mulrennan will be a force to be reckoned with. Jockey Mulrennan is married to Adele Rothery, another jockey. In 2008, Mulrennan was on a 100-1 chance in the Epsom Derby and jockey Rothery was on Masta Plasta in a sprint that was part of the undercard. Mulrennan made a pledge that he would marry Rothery if the two won their races on Derby day. Neither did. They tied the knot later. Jockey Mulrennan had 48 wins from 625 starts. That gave him a strike rate of 8%. His winners brought in 215,419. Mulrennan’s horses earned 378,691 in total prize money. There would be a 259.40 loss. In 2008, Mulrennan had 71 winners. In 2007, he rode 73 winners. There is no doubt in my mind that Mulrennan will be a major presence in India. Mickey Fenton won the 2006 English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. The filly’s name was Speciosa. Pam Sly, a woman trainer, sent Speciosa postward. Fenton has been in the top rung in the UK and wins his share. This year, he had 46 wins from 538 races for a 9% strike rate. His winners brought in 373,867. The total prize money was 535,333. You would have suffered a 121.61 loss. In June 2008, I wagered on San Antonio, a Fenton mount. San Antonio, at 8-1, had a long lead and knuckled under in the waning yards. In June 2009, on Oaks day at Epsom, I had wagered on a double-Confront, a Ryan Moore mount, in the first race and Sariska in the Oaks, the fifth race. Sariska won. Mac Love, Mickey Fenton up, beat Confront. When in India, especially when in Mumbai, I am hopeful that I’ll have better luck with jockey Fenton. He is a great judge of pace. He is very adept on front-end horses and can keep them going in difficult circumstances. |
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