Tag: Ryan Moore

Jamie Moore Forced To Retire On Medical Advice

Jamie Moore, who was aboard Sire De Grugy (Fr) (My Risk {Fr}) when he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, has announced his retirement from the saddle on medical advice from a fall sustained last autumn.

A fall at Lingfield in November resulted in fractured vertebra, broken ribs, and a broken nose for Moore, who hangs up his boots after a 22-year career. His team of doctors advised him not to return to race riding as a result.

Moore announced his retirement via a statement issued by the Professional Jockeys' Association (PJA) and it read, “It is with huge regret that, following my last fall in November 2023, I will not be returning to race riding.

“After being checked by top neurologists and spinal specialists, and taking advice from Dr Jerry Hill and the doctors who've seen me the most in my career–Dr Rizwan Ghani and Dr Lucy Free–I have been medically advised not to race ride again.

“I would like to thank everyone who has stuck by me and supported me throughout my 22-year career. Obviously I have been very lucky to have such a good trainer in my father Gary, who's always supported me, along with his brilliant, faithful owners. My mother Jayne and my wife Lucie have also always been there for me.

“Back to the start and my first boss, Mr [Martin] Pipe, who helped me become champion conditional. To every other trainer and every owner I've ridden for; my agent Dave Roberts; my sponsors; all the brilliant stable staff and the PJA and the Injured Jockeys Fund, who have always been so supportive.

“Finally, to the best place you could wish to work–the weighing room. To all the physios, tea boys and ladies, nurses and weighing room staff who have made each day of going to work much more enjoyable.

“And to all the brilliant jockeys and valets past and present who I've made lifelong friends with. I will hugely miss the weighing room. There have been some ups and plenty of downs but everyone is always there for you. You've all been top class.

“It's impossible to put into words how thankful I am to each and every one of you.”

The 39-year-old is the son of trainer Gary, and the brother of Josh, Ryan, and Hayley, who are also involved in the racing industry. Moore began riding in 2001, and was the champion conditional rider by the end of the 2003-2004 season during his time with Martin Pipe. Sire De Grugy, named British Jumps Horse of the Year in 2014 and co-owned by Gary, and Moore combined for 17 victories together, a highlight for both Moore and his father. Moore, who is credited with 968 winners throughout his career, also rode Al Co (Fr) (Dom Alco {Fr}) to victory in the 2014 Scottish Grand National for trainer Peter Bowen.

PJA executive director Dale Gibson added, “Jamie unfortunately suffered more than his fair share of long-term injuries and missed the equivalent of four years race riding during his career as a result, but his remarkable fortitude and appetite for race riding shone like a beacon throughout his career.

“Jamie was and will remain universally popular within the weighing room and wider racing industry. His down to earth, no-nonsense approach alongside his genuine love of the horse [should] be wholeheartedly applauded.

“He also served his colleagues and the PJA exceptionally well as southern-based National Hunt safety officer since December 2019, as well as being a dependable source for general advice to the PJA and younger jockeys both on and off the racecourse.

“Jamie has been a pleasure to represent and will be sorely missed in the weighing room. We wish him, his wife Lucie and their family all the very best and we look forward to seeing him on a racecourse soon in his second career.”

Gary Moore told Racing TV, “I'm very proud of him, you're proud of your children anyway, aren't you? He was champion conditional one year, thanks to Martin Pipe. He always wanted to do it from the age of 14 and he's done remarkably well.
“It's a shame he didn't quite make the thousand [winners], but at least he's come out in one piece.”

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Moore, Oliver, Saez Headline Saudi Jockeys’ Competition

Fourteen world-class jockeys from eight jurisdictions around the world will participate in the International Jockeys' Challenge to be held on the eve of the Saudi Cup meeting at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh Friday, Feb. 23. A team of seven male riders will compete against seven of their female counterparts in the four-race series.

Ryan Moore will feature in the Jockeys' Challenge for the first time in its brief history. The veteran reinsman, who was recognized as the Longines World's Best Jockey in Hong Kong last December, is one of five male participants based overseas, alongside the defending champion Luis Saez from the United States, Maxime Guyon from France and Japan's Ryusei Sakai.

Legendary Australian jockey Damien Oliver, the last of the overseas invitees, officially retired from the saddle Dec. 16, taking a Group 3 race named in his honour at Ascot in his hometown of Perth in Western Australia. But similar to his compatriot Glen Boss in 2022, Oliver–a three-time winner of the G1 Melbourne Cup–will pause his retirement to take part in the event, which is worth US$30,000 to the winner from a total pool of US$100,000. Oliver will look to add to the 3,168 winners he rode during an illustrious 34-year career in the saddle.

Eight-times Saudi champion Camilo Ospina and current titleholder Adel Alfouraidi round out the line-up for the males.

New Zealand's Lisa Allpress made history in 2020 when becoming the first female to win a race in Saudi Arabia, and the four-time leading rider returns to Riyadh for another crack. Australasia is also set to be represented by the Sydney-based Alysha Collett. America's Katie Davis makes her debut in the event and will be joined by South Africa's Rachel Venniker, Victoria Mota from Brazil, French jockey Maryline Eon and Great Britain's Saffie Osborne, the daughter of trainer Jamie Osborne, who was part of the female team that emerged victorious at last year's Shergar Cup at Ascot.

“The jockeys challenge on the Friday of Saudi Cup weekend is always one of the event highlights for me,” said HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khaled Alfaisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia. We are justifiably proud of the variety of racing showcased across the two days. To be in a position to offer a global stage to 14 of the world's best jockeys, seven men and seven women, is highly gratifying.

“We wish the best of luck to all the jockeys competing and hope that their feats on the racecourse serve to inspire new generations of riders both in Saudi Arabia and beyond.”

 

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The Week in Review: National Treasure Could Be On His Way to Stardom

I wasn't a National Treasure (Quality Road) fan. He got one of the easiest trips you'll ever see in a Triple Crown race when he was allowed to walk on the lead in the GI Preakness S., winning by a head over soft group of challengers. Which is why it came as no surprise that he couldn't so much as finish in the money in any of his next three starts, the GI Belmont S., the GI Travers S. and the GI Awesome Again S. He looked like a horse who had to set the pace to prevail and he didn't find himself on the lead in any of those races.

Yes, he turned in a big effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile when losing to eventual Horse of the Year Cody's Wish by a nose. But maybe Cody didn't run his best. He never did show an affinity for two turns. And maybe National Treasure's effort was a bit of a fluke. So I didn't like him one bit in Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. at Gulfstream. As the 5-2 favorite, he was an easy toss.

I was wrong. Was I ever.

Yes, this was the weakest field ever to assemble for the Pegasus and he did win by only a neck over the hard-trying blue-collar type Senor Buscador (Mineshaft). But take a deeper dive into this race and you'll likely conclude, as I did, that this was a very strong performance from National Treasure, one in which he served notice that he might be on a path to a Horse of the Year title.

As soon as the gate opened, both National Treasure and Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft) left there with a purpose, to get to the lead. With Hoist the Gold narrowly in front, they battled through early fractions of :23 and :46. For National Treasure, this was supposed to be the worst trip possible. He didn't make the lead and was engaged in a battle that resulted in fast fractions.

Trainer Bob Baffert, watching from California, wasn't worried.

“I knew there was going to be a hot pace and [Flavien] Prat and I talked about it,” Baffert said. “You can't take his speed away. You can't be worried about one horse. Just let him do his thing and he did. That's why he won.”

With about five furlongs to go, Prat made the move that might have won the race for him. He backed off of Hoist the Gold, ever so slightly but enough to give his horse a quick breather. With three furlongs left, Prat called on National Treasure and he responded and went right back at Hoist the Gold. By mid-stretch he had put away Hoist the Gold and had clear sailing to the wire. But then Senor Buscador decided to make a race out of it and closed relentlessly. Another two or three jumps, he probably would have won the race. But National Treasure had enough left to hold him off.

“He's very brave,” Prat said of National Treasure.

Meanwhile, Hoist the Gold, the winner of the GII Cigar Mile H., was cooked in the stretch. He finished fourth, beaten 11 lengths.

Baffert was non-committal when asked about National Treasure's next race, but you have to think that the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup is on his radar. If so, he would meet White Abarrio (Race Day), which would mean an early season showdown between the two best older dirt males in training.

With so many top horses being retired at the end of 2023, it looked like there would be very little star power when it came to the older male dirt division this year. Maybe National Treasure can change that.

Ryan Moore Does It Again

European-based rider Ryan Moore turned in the ride of the day when he guided Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. He saved ground every step of the way and burst through the hole that opened up at the top of the stretch when Balladeer (Distorted Humor) drifted ever so slightly off the fence and then held off eventual Eclipse Award winner Up to the Mark (Not This Time). Moore was the reason Auguste Rodin won the race.

On Saturday at Gulfstream, he gave a carbon-copy ride to Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to win the nine-furlong Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S.

On a horse whose biggest wins had come at a mile-and-a-half, Moore knew he couldn't afford to drop too far off the pace, so he had her positioned in third in the early going. She was third at the top of the stretch on the rail and it looked like Moore had nowhere to go. There never really was a hole, but when Maine Event (Bernardini) came out a half-path or so, Moore burst through the narrow opening and then held off a late bid from I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing). Just as was the case in the Breeders' Cup, the horse probably doesn't win unless guided to a perfect trip by Moore.

“Ryan obviously gave her an incredible ride and has done such an incredible job,” winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said.

And give credit to the Coolmore team. When so many others find reasons not to run in races, this was Warm Heart's second start after she finished second in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. When it was determined that she was going to have to be in the U.S. anyway so that she could be bred to Justify, they figured why not head a ways down the road and go after the $1-million purse at Gulfstream. The win netted them $531,000. It was the perfect way to end Warm Heart's career.

By the way, how did Warm Heart go off at 2.4-1, while Integration (Quality Road) was 1.2-1? Yes, Integration looked like he had a lot of potential, but had never faced older horses in a stakes race and his biggest win came in the GII Hill Prince S. Yes, Warm Heart was a filly facing boys, but her record towered over that of anyone else in the field. She was a two-time Group I winner in Europe and missed by just a neck when second in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She should have been the favorite.

Eclipse Awards

It's always fun to see every year what was the dumbest vote when it comes to the Eclipse Awards. The winner this year goes to the person who voted for Kirstenbosch (Midnight Lute) in the female sprinter category. Kirstenbosch went 2-for-9 on the year and both wins came in Grade III races. That also means that someone voted for her ahead of Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper), won two Grade I's during the year, including the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) who was 3-for-3 and based on some speed figures was the fastest horse to race during the year.

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Warm Heart Beats Boys, Sets Course Record In Pegasus World Cup Turf

As farewell tours go, this was a pretty good one.

Four years after the Coolmore contingent's Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) gave the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf a mighty shake when second to upset-minded Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}), the globetrotting Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was given an A-plus steer from Ryan Moore, showed plenty of heart and guts when in very tight approaching the entrance to the final furlong and stayed on courageously to become the first female winner of the $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf.

The final time of 1:44.45 for the nine furlongs on firm turf broke the previous record of English Channel back in 2007.

Made the 12-5 second favorite behind the previously undefeated Integration (Quality Road), Warm Heart secured a forward position, with Integration a few lengths in her wake, as Main Event (Bernardini) and Catnip (Kitten's Joy) came across from their double-digit draws to fight out an opening quarter in :23.47. Jerry the Nipper (Liam's Map) went up to spilt that pair, and when he did, Moore made a critical decision to hustle his filly along for a stride or two, enabling her to secure a ground-saving rail position just behind the pacesetters.

Remaining glued to the fence through the middle furlongs and with no real changes to the plot, Warm Heart began to zero in on the dueling front-runners rounding the turn, and Moore opted to ride her for luck nearing the stretch, attempting to work the same sort of magic as he did aboard Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Main Event was holding firm as they hit the stretch, but Javier Castellano had left a sliver of daylight for Warm Heart at the inside if she was good enough to capitalize. She sliced through there gamely to lead a furlong out and held safe to the wire as 'TDN Rising Star' I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing)–who didn't enjoy the clearest of stretch runs–came running late. Frankie Dettori also put an outstanding ride on the outposted Catnip, riding him for speed before sitting a wide trip and staying on for third.

Integration, perfect in three tries prior to this, raced ahead of midfield and enjoyed a decent inside trip for the opening seven furlongs. But whereas Moore was able to get through, the runs never came for Integration, as he was stymied behind Jerry the Nipper and inside of Catnip when push came to shove and he flashed home full of run for fifth once clear.

“She's always traveling very comfortably,” said Moore. “I didn't want to be there too early, and I didn't want to be tipping out into the straight, and I thought I'd rather just wait. She's a great filly. She's had an incredible year. She hasn't had a bad race.

“The leader, he was always leaning out, and he was weakening and I knew I had plenty of horse, so no problem. I was happy to wait.”

A maiden winner over a mile and two furlongs in the soft at Leopardstown last May, Warm Heart took the 12-furlong G2 Ribblesdale S. at the Royal Meeting and belied odds of 9-1 to defeat older females in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks Aug. 24. A neck winner despite a stumble at the start of the G1 Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp Sept. 10, she was set for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the quick ground at Santa Anita as opposed to the oft-easy conditions for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The plan nearly came together perfectly, as Warm Heart snuck through inside and looked home in the 10-furlong event Nov. 4, only to be stung on the wire by the fast-finishing Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who would go on to be crowned at the Eclipse Awards. Sent over to Hong Kong for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, she made the lead a long way from home and was there for the taking late, finishing third to Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}).

“She's an incredible filly,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “Ryan said it just didn't work for her the last race, but she's tactical, she's tough and she quickens. She doesn't do an awful lot when she gets there, but that's the way she's always been. She's very classy and very hardy, loves the fast ground, fast track.”

Much to the Ballydoyle maestro's chagrin, Warm Heart heads up to Kentucky to begin her second career.

“She's incredible. We'd love to have her and to be racing her, but the lads business is breeding these horses and she's an absolutely incredible broodmare to be going to Justify, who looks probably the most incredible stallion that ever was based on what he's done so far. It's so exciting, really,” O'Brien said.

Pedigree Notes:

A three-time Group 1 winner in Australia over sprint trips, Sea Siren was sent to the Northern Hemisphere in late spring 2013, finishing eighth in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. before taking the Listed Belgrave S. to conclude her racing career.

A half-sister to Australian Group 3 winner Oratorio (Aus)–not to be confused with the eponymous Irish-bred–and New Zealand Group 2 winner Lady Dehere (NZ), Sea Siren is also responsible for Warm Heart's 3-year-old brother Bremen (Ire), a maiden winner at second asking for Donnacha O'Brien at Killarney last July. Sea Siren was bred to Camelot (GB) on Southern Hemisphere time and was returned to Australia, where she foaled a colt by the sire of G1 Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet (Ire) in August 2022. Chris Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock went to A$275,000 for that produce at the recently concluded Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. After producing a colt by Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) last August, Sea Siren was covered by Justify at Coolmore Australia in September.

As stated above, Warm Heart has a date with Justify this year, and with good reason. The cross over Galileo has resulted in three winners at the graded level, including champion and G1 Dewhurst S. winner City of Troy, GII Jessamine S. victress Buchu and Group 3 winner Red Riding Hood (Ire). G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer is out of a mare by Galileo's sire Sadler's Wells, while Group 2 winner Statuette has a second dam by Sadler's Wells.

 

Saturday, Gulfstream
1/ST BET PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $952,300, Gulfstream, 1-27, 4yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:44.45, fm.
1–WARM HEART (IRE), 118, f, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Sea Siren (Aus) (Hwt. Older Mare-Ire-at 5-7 f.,
                                MG1SW-Aus, SW & MGSP-Ire, $1,743,772),
                                by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
                2nd Dam: Express A Smile (Aus), by Success Express
                3rd Dam: Hold That Smile (Aus), by Haulpak (Aus)
O-Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael
Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-Ryan L.
Moore. $531,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr,
G1SP-HK, 11-6-2-1, $2,194,994. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–I'm Very Busy, 123, c, 4, Cloud Computing–Two Kisses, by
Kissin Kris. 'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 Ylg
'21 EASOCT; $135,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Team Hanley,
Richard Schermerhorn and Paul Braverman; B-Glenn E. Brok
LLC & Mark Toothaker (PA); T-Chad C. Brown. $177,000.
3–Catnip, 123, g, 5, Kitten's Joy–Masquerade, by Silent Name
(Jpn). O/B-John & Susan Moore (KY); T-Michael Stidham.
$88,500.
Margins: HF, NK, 1. Odds: 2.40, 14.50, 46.50.
Also Ran: Atone, Integration, Webslinger, Kingmax (Ire), Shirl's Speight, Jerry the Nipper, Adhamo (Ire), Main Event, Master Piece (Chi). Scratched: Anglophile, Grand Sonata.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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