With team Gosden likely to be in for a busy and productive week at Royal Ascot, many eyes will be trained firmly on Kieran Shoemark, their new number one jockey. He speaks below on life in the top job, British racing in a post-Dettori world, and his best chances at the royal meeting next week.
It wasn’t daunting replacing Frankie Dettori as number one jockey
Frankie was on his farewell tour and I was asked to come in and ride out and it propelled from there. I started riding a few and Frankie decided in his last year he didn’t want to ride any two year olds, so I did some maidens and novice races in his place and it went from there.
It wasn’t daunting really because it was a gradual transition. Frankie was very much still around – I was just going in and riding when I was needed. I was still riding for (trainer) Charlie Hills but there was no real pressure.
We were in talks and there was a bit of uncertainty as to what Frankie was going to do. At the beginning of this year there was speculation and rumours, and it came to a point where John and Thady and I were all on the same page.
I am there to do a job for John and Thady Gosden – I don’t look at it as replacing Frankie Dettori
I don’t look at it like that. I am there to do a job for John and Thady (Gosden, trainers). I don’t look at it as if I am replacing Frankie Dettori because I can’t. I know he was associated with Clarehaven for many years and if I did look at it like that, then it could have been very daunting.
It is one of the biggest jobs in racing. John and Thady were champion trainers last year. It is a huge opportunity and one I am going to grab with both hands.
I look forward to what is to come. It is fair to say it has been a little bit of a steady start, but we are still early into the season and hopefully we have some nice horses to appear very soon.
Not many people share Frankie’s personality and I do wonder who could replace him as the face of our sport
People underestimate how special Frankie was and is. Not many people share his personality traits as such a larger-than-life character but I do wonder who the next person could be.
Oisin Murphy has shown he is a great character but I think he is not quite so out there as he was two or three years ago – he has reigned it in a bit.
I initially felt a little bit of extra pressure – but I can only ride the horse that is under me
In January and February, I would probably have said yes to feeling extra pressure. I have had to quickly adapt and realise that I can only ride the horse that is under me and the race that is presented to me.
I go out every day and do the best job for my trainer and the owners. I try not to let the pressure get to me as there is no benefit allowing pressures like that to creep in.
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Wed 12 Jun 2024
This year will be the busiest Royal Ascot for me with between 15 and 20- rides on the cards
The biggest and the busiest for me, that is fair to say. Over the five days I will be looking at between 15 and 20 rides and some high profile ones among them.
Inspiral in the Queen Anne is one. She had a fantastic year last year, capping it off at the Breeders’ Cup. She returned in the Lockinge and needed the run, maybe more so than we anticipated. She has been in great order since.
Theory of Tides – I think he’ll run in the King Edward. Emily Upjohn has a couple of entries in the Prince of Wales and in the Hardwicke. Eben Shaddad had some nice juvenile form and ran well in the French Guineas I thought, and he will run in the Jersey Stakes. Jack Darcy could run in the Wolverton.
It is fair to say that Clarehaven might be a little light on quality this year – there is no big superstar like Enable.
I will take it day by day – I don’t have a target in mind. At the moment all I am thinking about is winning the Queen Anne as that would be a great way to kick off. I have only ever had one winner at Royal Ascot so I can’t be going there thinking about targets.
Every year I’ve ridden there I have been extremely well prepared. I walk the track the normal things. I won’t approach it any differently but naturally there will be more pressure.
Shoemark was speaking to BoyleSports, who will be offering the latest Royal Ascot odds.
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