Great post
mick, very informative, as ever, your knowledge makes for great reading.
The plan is not to explain too much, just following what my top two rated horses do jockey wise.
If their jockeys remain loyal or are engaged elsewhere.
Difficulty is some jocks are contracted to owners through racing managers rather than stables and miss out on rides for contractual reasons rather their view of the horses chance of winning.
Others are directed by Jockey Agents and some agents dominate with the best jockeys and bigger stables.
Racing has changed, lightweight jockeys at the bottom of the hcap were seen as weak in a finish.
Heavier jocks fasting to do their minimum or close to it was a good indicator of their intentions.
Top jocks play the averages now they put the horse 'in the race' and if it wins all well in good if it doesn't there is always their next mount.
Richard Hughes was for ever in the Stewards room for misuse then all of a sudden it stopped he just drove his mount to a point and sometimes it looked as if he was failing to ride a finish but he had just realised he couldn't force the issue like old times.
Declan Murphy was the same his winners won by lengths rather than nostrils.
The professional bar has been raised in the jockey ranks and this is thanks in many ways to the racing schools where the likes of John Reid and others have helped set the younger generation to be much more professional in their presentation, media, mental health and well being.
There are still issues and recent drug testing has shown the use of recreational drugs amongst younger jockeys is on the rise.
Today was all about Jane and her attempt at 100.