What Classic clues may we glean there? Well, maybe none. But I liked the look of Narkez (Fr), who gave his rivals a six-length walloping in the Prix Comrade last Tuesday, picking up where he left off after winning at Clairefontaine last October. Bred by Nurlan Bizakov under his Sumbe banner, the colt represents that magic Siyouni (Fr)-Galileo (Ire) cross, though let's face it, Galileo mares work well all over the place. Narkez, trained by Andre Fabre, has helped to give his owner a great start to the season following the Listed win of Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Doncaster Mile. 

One person who is entitled to love Siyouni more than most is Peter Brant, who celebrated his first European Classic victory when Sottsass (Fr) won the Prix du Jockey Club before going on to deliver the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for Brant as well. We're looking forward to seeing his first runners emerge this season, but in the meantime Brant looks to have another decent prospect by Siyouni on his hands in the form of Louise Procter (Fr). Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, she became the second TDN Rising Star of the week for her sire when remaining unbeaten in her third start in the Prix du Belvedere at Chantilly on Thursday. She looks smart and has the entries to match. 

Making Dreams (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) kept up her trainer Karl Burke's great strike-rate in French stakes races by winning the G3 Prix Penelope by six lengths on her seasonal debut at Saint-Cloud. She is another who should enter considerations for the Classics, as should the Prix Caracalla winner Mister Gatz (Fr), who was born in the spring in which his sire Adlerflug (Ger) died. The flashy chestnut colt was somewhat reminiscent of his father as he bowled around the lush Parisian turf looking like he was having a mighty time before putting his head down to stride clear of the field by five lengths. Trained in Deauville by Stephanie Nigge for a collection of owners which includes his breeder Mathieu Boutin and Gerard Augustin-Normand, Mister Gatz holds an entry for the Deutsches Derby. 

O'Shea Shines on Dubai's Big Day

Of course last week, or more specifically Saturday, was really all about the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan which could certainly be considered a triumph for internationalism. The trophies for the eight Group races were shared between horses trained in America, Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, France, Britain and Dubai (x2).

It was also a great advertisement for keeping classy horses in training beyond the age of three. The winners of the five Group 1 contests were aged between five and seven, with Jerome Reynier's Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) being the youngest of those, and the wide-margin Golden Shaheen winner, the former Russian-trained Tuz (Oxbow), enjoying his finest hour as a seven-year-old on his fourth appearance on Dubai World Cup night. 

Tuz and the Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River (Into Mischief) won their races in a manner which must still have their trainer Bhupat Seemar and jockey Tadhg O'Shea blinking in disbelief. By six and a half and eight and a half lengths respectively, they each set a new record for the winning distance, with Laurel River, who broke from the outside gate, overturning that held by Dubai Millennium (GB) for 24 years. 

O'Shea, now 42, has been champion jockey in the UAE 11 times and he is in pole position to claim his 12th title this season. But despite that consistent success, the Irishman had a sole Group 1 victory to his name until Saturday.

A modest and loyal grafter, O'Shea praised Laurel River's owner Juddmonte for keeping him on the horse, saying, “They could have any jockey in the world on him and they kept the faith with me. I'll be forever indebted to them.”

Juddmonte didn't need any other jockey to claim a second Dubai World Cup after Arrogate's victory in 2017. O'Shea, bold from the outset from the number 12 stall, simply rode his rivals ragged and very much deserved his night in the spotlight. 

The Auguste Enigma

The last three winners of the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) were all in action over the weekend, with Shahryar (Jpn) a good second in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, which also featured the last two Japanese Oaks winners Liberty Island (Jpn) and Stars On Earth (Jpn), while Do Deuce (Jpn) was not beaten far when fifth in the G1 Dubai Turf. Lest we think that Japan is completely depleted of its best runners during the big meetings in the Middle East, then look no further than Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin. It featured last year's Japanese Derby and 2,000 Guineas winners, Tastiera (Jpn) and Sol Oriens (Jpn), along with Geoglyph (Jpn), who beat Equinox (Jpn) to win the Guineas in 2022, and the G1 Shuka Sho winner of that same year, Stunning Rose (Jpn).

So much of the Sheema Classic build-up had centred on the clash between Liberty Island and Auguste Rodin (Ire), but the latter, who won last year's Derby and Irish Derby before going on to land the Irish Champion and Breeders' Cup Turf, added to his enigmatic status by finishing last of the 12 runners. 

Don't despair. When 12th in the Guineas on debut last season, Auguste Rodin bounced back to win at Epsom, and he put his last-place finish in the King George behind him to triumph next time out on Irish Champions Weekend. This column, at least, still holds the faith that when he's good, he's very, very good. 

Epsom's honour was however upheld in Sydney over the weekend, where the 2020 Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) claimed his second consecutive stakes win for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the G3 Neville Selwood S. 

It's Whitsbury's World

It is important not to get too carried away with the early two-year-old races. Despite the annual hullabaloo over Royal Ascot, nothing really matters until the autumn, right? But it's impossible not to watch the early skirmishes with interest and Whitsbury Manor Stud's Sergei Prokofiev was represented by his second winner from just two runners when Flicka's Girl triumphed at Wolverhampton on Easter Monday. The David Loughnane-trained filly was also bred by Whitsbury Manor and sold, as is the stud's usual practice, at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale for 22,000gns.

Britain's other juvenile race on Monday over at Kempton went the way of Pont Neuf (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), a winner on debut for Eve Johnston Houghton, who also struck with the two-year-old Tanager (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) at Chelmsford on Good Friday. 

The trainer has a well established partnership with bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley of Highflyer Bloodstock when it comes to working the sales and the pair has once again unearthed a couple of useful looking prospects for 24,000gns (Tattersalls Somerville) and €22,000 (Tattersalls Ireland) respectively.

Johnson Houghton has made a flying start to the new season with four winners and three placed horses from nine runners since the official 'start of the Flat'.

Jack Came Back

It was announced last week that Ben Curtis, who was been riding at Fair Grounds in New Orleans over the winter, would remain in America for “the foreseeable future” after riding 43 winners and netting more than $1.5 million in prize-money.

Last September, Curtis had ridden his 1,000th winner aboard Merrijig (GB) (Schiaparelli {Ger}) and as that horse resumed on Good Friday, the absent Curtis was replaced in the saddle by Jack Gilligan, who has recently returned after a decade in the US and now has Curtis's former agent Simon Dodds representing him.

Merrijig was the first of two winners for Gilligan from three rides on Good Friday, and the jockey struck again 24 hours later on his sole ride at Wolverhampton. 

Not to be confused with the Irish conditional of the same name, Gilligan was born in Newmarket but left Britain at the age of 17 with his parents Pat, a racing writer and trainer, and Vicky, a barn foreman at WinStar Farm. With more than 400 wins in America, including two Grade III victories aboard Silver Dust (Tapit), he has been making the most of the opportunities handed to him since returning to his home town.

There are not many names in the jockeys' table with a better strike-rate than Gilligan so far this year. He is currently operating at 20% winners to rides. Backing all of his 45 mounts would have yielded a profit of almost £43 to a £1 stake.

Pecheur Swaps Roles for Rottgen

German Classic-winning jockey Maxim Pecheur retired at the end of last season to succeed Markus Klug as the trainer at Gestut Rottgen near Cologne. He had previously ridden Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) in the famous Rottgen colours to win the 2017 G1 Deutsches Derby. The colt was trained by Klug, as was Pecheur's G1 Preis der Diana winner, Diamanta (Ger) (Maxios {GB}), for Gestut Brummerhof. 

Pecheur is clearly adjusting well to his new role at the historic training centre and he could well have a Derby contender of his own this year after his first runner, Anspruch (Ger) (New Bay {GB}), won on debut at Cologne on Monday. The Rottgen-bred colt is out of the Group 3 winner Anna Katharina (Ger) (Kallisto {Ger}).

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Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

CALIFORNIA
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/28/2022
Licensee: Abdul Alsagoor, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Apprentice Jockey Abdul Alsagoor, who rode Poseidon's Kid in the eighth race at Santa Anita Park on May 27, 2022, is suspended for 3 racing days (June 4, 5 and 10, 2022) for failure to make the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the stretch, causing interference which resulted in the disqualification of his mount from second to fourth place. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – Careless Riding). Pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1766 (Designated Races), the term of suspension shall not prohibit participation in designated races.

NEW YORK
Track: Belmont Park
Date: 05/28/2022
Licensee: Edward Barker, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Failure to report a shockwave treatment
Explainer: Trainer Mr Edward Barker is hereby fined the sum of $500 dollars for failing to report a shockwave treatment.

KENTUCKY
Some of the following rulings were not posted on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission website in time for inclusion last week.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/20/2022
Licensee: Eder Martinez, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Eder Martinez, who rode Youvsaiditall in the third race at Churchill Downs on May 15, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Martinez was given the option and chose to serve a suspension.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/21/2022
Licensee: Isaias Ayala, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Isaias Ayala, who rode El Gavilan in the second race at Churchill Downs on May 20, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Ayala was given the option and chose to serve a suspension. Isaias Ayala is hereby suspended 3 racing days, May 27 through May 29, 2022 (inclusive) for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/21/2022
Licensee: Jack Gilligan, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Jack Gilligan, who rode Jeremy's Jet in the second race at Churchill Downs on May 20, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation (2nd offense). Jack Gilligan is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/21/2022
Licensee: Paul McEntee, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Improper scratch
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Paul McEntee is hereby fined $500 for the scratch of Jeremy's Jet from the first race on May 19, 2022, which violated the regulation that governs scratches.

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Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

California

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/15/2022
Licensee: Ryan Curatolo, jockey
Penalty: Four-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Jockey Ryan Curatolo, who rode Silent Beauty in the ninth race at Santa Anita Park on April 10, 2022, is suspended for 4 racing days (April 30, May 1, 6 and 7, 2022) for failure to make the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the stretch, causing interference which resulted in the disqualification of his mount from third to fourth place. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – Careless Riding). Pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1766 (Designated Races), the term of suspension shall not prohibit participation in designated races.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/16/2022
Licensee: Diego Herrera, jockey
Penalty: $750 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Apprentice Jockey Diego Herrera is fined $750.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times–second offense in the past sixty days) during the fourth race at Santa Anita Park on April 15, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/17/2022
Licensee: Edgar Payeras, jockey
Penalty: $500
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Edgar Payeras is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times) during the third race at Santa Anita Park on April 16, 2022.

Kentucky

Track: Keeneland
Date: 04/13/2022
Licensee: Bob Hess, owner-trainer
Penalty: $1,000
Violation: Falsifying owner's signature to claim a horse
Explainer: After waiving his right to a formal hearing before the Board of Stewards, Robert B. Hess Jr is hereby fined $1,000 for violating the rules governing claiming by falsifying the owner's signature while attempting to claim “Malibu Marie” from the 4th race at Keeneland on April 8, 2022. Upon receipt of this ruling, the licensee is required within 30 days to pay any and all fines imposed to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Failure to do so will subject the licensee to a summary suspension of licensee pursuant to 810 KAR 3:020 Section 15 (cc).

Track: Keeneland
Date: 04/13/2022
Licensee: Jack Gilligan, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Jack Gilligan, who rode Baytown Lovely in the first race at Keeneland on April 10, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Gilligan was given the option and chose to serve a suspension. Jack Gilligan is hereby suspended 3 racing days, April 14 through April 16, 2022 (inclusive) for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

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“I feel better than ever. I didn't realize how messed up I was really these last couple of years with these concussions and stuff until I took the time off,” Gilligan said. “I'm hoping the improvement I feel right now will show on the race track. Hopefully I will do better than ever.”

Between 2014 and early 2021, Gilligan won 356 races amassing $8,767,893 in earnings. His biggest win to date came at Fair Grounds in the 2019 Mineshaft (G3) aboard Silver Dust for trainer Bret Calhoun.  Having plenty of success in his young career, he has taken that winning attitude to the gym to be cranked for his return.

“I go to the gym five or six days a week,” Gilligan said. “A lot of cardio, a lot of time working the core in the gym. It hasn't been until this last month that I've started getting back on horses, in the morning breezing. It's been good and I feel really tight right now.”

Now fit and feeling fantastic, the new challenge is finding mounts.

“That's the tough thing: you have so long off you kind of lose all your business, so it's like starting all over again,” Gilligan said. “I'm not going to let it keep me down, I know it's tough. I'm going into it with the mindset I've got to start from scratch again. I'm not expecting anything and I am thankful for whatever opportunities I can get. I'm just going to work as hard as I can to try and get back riding.”

In 2020-21, Gilligan enjoyed quite a bit of success with trainer Shane Wilson.

“I hope I can start riding for Shane again,” Gilligan said. “I haven't gotten on anything for him so far but he said he was going to find something for me. Right now, I've got a mount for Jose Camejo on Saturday. One for Gary Scherer so far. I've been in there breezing for Al Stall so hopefully he might give me something.”

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Gilligan was aboard Tripper John, a 4-year-old maiden gelding he had ridden before. He knew the horse had previously had issues with the gate but in their last start together they experienced no issues. After loading on Sunday, Gilligan said the horse went up with no warning, tossing him out the back of the gate. He remembers turning in midair and came down primarily on his left shoulder, breaking that collarbone in the same place he had broken it previously.

“It took me like four weeks to get back on horses and five weeks to get back racing [last time] so I'm hopeful for the same timeline,” he said. “It was a bit unlucky. If I'd fallen any other way I'd probably be all right. My collarbone, the way it healed was a little crooked, so that's probably why it was easier to break this time.”

Gilligan also said Wednesday that he would be getting evaluated to see if he had a concussion, as he also suffered some head trauma in the fall.

Tripper John was scratched after the incident, but Gilligan said he believed the horse was unharmed.

One of few advantages to breaking the same bone a second time is Gilligan said he's not in as much pain as he remembers from the first injury as long as he keeps his arm still. He expects the next few weeks to be quiet ones as he waits out the healing process, with a few days to grab some extra sleep and downtime before he must begin getting back to training.

So far this year, Gilligan has two wins, three seconds and eight thirds from 35 starts. To date, the British native has ridden 356 American winners since becoming licensed in the United States in 2014 and has piloted earners of more than $8.7 million.

The post Jockey Gilligan Breaks Collarbone In Gate Incident, Expects To Be Out Five Weeks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Through the first six weeks of the meet, the 23-year-old jockey has ridden 77 horses, with 21 wins, 14 seconds and 10 thirds. He's currently tied with Joel Dominguez, who has been one of the top riders in Shreveport for the past four years.

Born in Newmarket, England, Gilligan's father, Patrick, is a Thoroughbred trainer and it was not long before his son found a calling with horses.

“I was riding a pony from five on,” said Gilligan. “When I turned 13, I began exercising horses before and after school and on weekends.”

“We were taught every aspect of racing and caring for horses,” he explained. “It was a great foundation.”

He graduated in May, 2013 and two weeks later, at the age of 16, rode in his first race.

Interestingly, his father was born in New York, so with dual citizenship, Gilligan set his sights on a riding career in the United States. Just before he turned 18, he arrived in Lexington, Kentucky and began riding as an apprentice at Turfway Park. He was the third leading rider at Ellis Park and made the move to Louisiana for the 2017-2018 Fair Grounds meet. One of the horsemen who gave him some very good mounts was Bret Calhoun who entrusted him to ride Silver Dust. The victory for the son of Tapit, owned by Tom Durant in the 2019 Mineshaft at Fair Grounds was his first graded stakes.

His momentum was derailed on January 25 of this year when he was involved in a nasty spill at Fair Grounds, suffering at broken collarbone and seven facial fractures.

“I was out until the last week of the Fair Grounds meet,” said Gilligan. “I knew it would be hard for me to get mounts in Kentucky, so I stayed in Louisiana.”

His agent in Kentucky was Liz Morris, but in Louisiana, Gilligan is represented by veteran Richie Price. They were aiming for Lone Star Park, but the uncertainty of when their season would begin prompted Price to consider shifting to Harrah's Louisiana Downs. The enticement of riding for leading trainer Karl Broberg was icing on the cake.

“He's a nice kid and is making the most of this meet,” stated Price, who is also handling mounts for apprentice Kody Kellenberger. “Jack is gaining a lot of confidence here.”

Broberg who has been the North American trainer in wins since 2014, is enjoying his association with the young jockey.

“I heard he was contemplating options and I needed a rider,” said Broberg. “I'm very pleased with Jack; he puts his horses in the right position, and we are winning races.”

Personality-wise, you would be hard-pressed to find two more different personality types than the irascible Broberg and the optimistic and upbeat Gilligan.

“He's hilarious,” acknowledged Gilligan when asked about Broberg. “No filter whatsoever and tells it like it is. But he is fully invested in our industry and I am lucky to work with his assistant, Kevin Martin here at Louisiana Downs. He does a great job!

Gilligan loves the history, culture and food in Louisiana and recently bought a place in New Orleans. Now, riding afternoons with heat indexes in the 100's is another story!

“The first weekend (in June) I thought I was going to die,” he said. “I got some relief by dunking my head in the ice bucket even though all the jocks were laughing at me.”

But he takes it all in stride because the camaraderie in the jocks room is very special.

“I was a little worried about fitting in, but everyone has been very friendly,” said Gilligan. “I love the atmosphere in the room and got command of the Cajun accent when I was in the same part of the Churchill Downs jocks room with Calvin Borel. At first I didn't understand half the words, but I've got them down now!”

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