Midway through 2016, Adam Kirby, the British jockey, was faced with a massive dilemma. His partner, Megan, was in the final stages of her labour and naturally, he wanted to be with her as she delivered their first child. The problem, of course, was that he also had another date that day, with his horse, Profitable. And the stakes were as high as they come. It was time for the Royal Ascot 2016, one of the finest races of that year – or any other year for that matter. The gamble came good though, with Kirby pulling ahead and finishing a neck up. He walked away with a cool £400,000. That can pay for a lot of nappies!
This is one of the stories that showcase Kirby’s relentless aggression to get to the top. He is the lanky lad of horse racing, and while we don’t know if height gives him an edge, then we certainly know that his sharp-as-a-razor brain does . And for someone thought to be just establishing himself, Kirby has made some tremendous inroads in the game, especially when you consider the races taking place inside of the UK. He has managed several high profile victories while riding some of the finest horses in Britain – it doesn’t start and end with Profitable.
Notable victories
In September 2015, while racing with the horse Connecticut, he managed to grab the International Bosphorus Cup, much to the admiration of his peers. Bet365 Gordon Richards Stake came next, in April 2016, and the jockey managed another upset, again with the beloved Profitable, whose trainer was (and still is ) Clive Cox. In June of the same year, Kirby won the Prince of Wale’s Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1), and this time, he rode My Dream Boat.