Jockey

Luke Morris is well-known English jockey who was born on 20th October, 1988. Born in Oxford and trained at the British Racing School at Newmarket, the young rider’s profile has been on a steady rise over the last decade. Once apprenticed to renowned trainer Michael Bell, Morris remains one of the most promising jockeys on the racing scene.

His very first race course win happened in November 2005. Years later he attracted widespread admiration when he steered Gilt Edge Girl to a decisive victory in the 2010 Ballyogan Stakes. Within the same year, the youthful champion attained yet another feat with success in the internationally watched Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp. Since then, his star has risen more and more.

Many mainstream news outlets have described Luke Morris as the most hardworking jockey in Britain, if not in the whole of Europe. According to some in the racing fraternity, Morris is known to have shwn his interest in racing, as as yung an age as seven. As a senior sports columnist aptly stated – “there’s no stopping Luke Morris…”

As an emphatic testament to his reputation as one of the busiest jockeys in Europe, Morris marked his 1,330 ride in mid 2016 – 100 more than anyone else!

James Doyle was born on 22nd April 1988 and is a respected horse racing jockey. During his early childhood days in Cambridgeshire, England, Doyle showed a keen interest in horses. His father was himself trainer and so it was always likely that he too would show an interest in the sport too. Regardless of the precise reasoning behind his entering professional racing, Doyle certainly has an aptitude for it.

From 2014 to the present day, James Doyle has been one of the few retained jockeys to Godolphin Racing in the United Kingdom. He mainly steers horses coached by Saeed bin Suroor. A no doubt lucrative professional partnership.

Having partnered with Richard Prince, whose gelding Farnborough he steered to a decisive win, the spirited star constantly rose to unimaginably coveted career heights. His several other major triumphs are: the time-honored Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud – (1) – Noble Mission (2014), the highly competitive Prix Jacques Le Marois – (1) – Kingman (2014), the routine Great Britain Champion Stakes – (1) – Noble Mission (2014), a notable title in the Eclipse Stakes – (1) – Al Kazeem (2013), famously applauded during the stars-decorated Falmouth Stakes – (1) – Amazing Maria (2015), as well as a clear victory in the Lockinge Stakes – (1) – Night of Thunder (2015).

James Doyle is always counted among the most hardworking jockeys, up there wih the likes of Luke Morris, a contemporary now described as Europe’s busiest jockey.

Having grown up in Banbridge, County Down, Pat Cosgrave was winning on horseraces from an early age. Riding on the pony racing circuit, the proving ground for young and upcoming jockeys, he rode his first winner in late 1999 at the tender age of 17.

 

Champion Apprentice

Before moving to Britain in late 2004, Patrick hit another major milestone in his development by becoming Ireland’s Champion apprentice under the tutelage of Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle stables.

Cosgrave showed real aptitude at sprint riding and he went on to fulfill his obvious potential by riding Borderlescott, owned and trained by Robin Bastimann, first over the line in the 2008 Nunthorpe Stakes and achieved the same result, partnering Markab to victory in the 2010 Haydock Sprint Cup.

Ascot Success

Society Rock (foal of celebrated champion racehorse – Rock of Gibraltar, part-owned by former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson) landed him his first major Ascot prize and his 3rd Group One sprint success in the Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2011.

Adversity

Pat Cosgrave’s career was to take something of a backwards step at the beginning of 2014, when he was found guilty of employing team tactics in the Jebel Hatta, a group 1 race in Dubai. By wilfully allowing stable companion Vercingetorix, being ridden by Christophe Soumillon at the time, to pass him and his mount (Anaerobio) by easing up and letting him through, he was adjudged to have broken race rules, which landed him a 6 month ban.

This didn’t stop him racing however, as the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) didn’t uphold the ban, leaving him free to continue racing in the UK. Cosgrave would go on to appeal the decision, resulting in a reduced 4 month term.

Illustrious Career

Since this unfortunate event, Pat Cosgrave has gone on to record a further 225+ wins, giving him a career total of almost 700 wins and total prize money earnings of over £4m.

Whilst it was difficult to hit the highest heights with top british jump jockeys like A.P. McCoy on the race scene, he still has an impressive win record and has had to overcome a fair amount of adversity to do so, dusting himself down and very much proving the truth behind the adage – ‘where there’s a will there’s a way’.

In an interview with the Guardian newspaper a few days ago, Irishman Paddy Brennan poured his heart out about an incident that happened a little over 12 months ago. Brennan and his horse, Cue Card, seemed to be on the verge of winning the Cheltenham’s Gold Cup, and then the unexpected happened – the man and his horse clattered to the grass, and his dream of the 1 million-pound prize went up in smoke.

It hasn’t always been like that for the Irishman

Growing up in County Galway, Brennan wanted nothing more than to become a county hurler. His entry into horse racing was as accidental as the few slip ups he has suffered on the race track. Brennan was so invested in hunt horses that his neighbor noticed his exceptional skill and advised him to try the trade. Taking the cue, the young Irishman started his apprenticeship with Jim Bolger. After a while, he became part of Paul Nicholls’s team 17 years ago.

Going professional

The 35-year-old has been around for quite a bit, and it is fair to say that his portfolio does not look particularly wanting. The 2004/05 season saw him become a champion conditional jockey. In 2006, while riding Shamayoun, he galloped his way to the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. 2007 saw him win the Ladbrokes World Hurdle while riding Inglis Drever. The Pertemps Final trophy came with Brennan astride Ballyfitz. He has also won the Bettfair Chase two times, 2015 and 2016.The victories have been attained with Imperial Commander and Cue Card respectively.

Brennan’s pay dirt

As of today, Brennan has rode the back of over 1,000 winners, so you can bet he keeps trotting to the bank. And if he plays his cards right this week, he will be able to obliterate the memories of that tumble 12 months ago-on the same horse too!