Kieran Shoemark to take on John Gosden runners in France as he is snapped up by trainer Charlie Fellowes
KIERAN SHOEMARK will get the chance to prove a massive point to John Gosden in Paris on Sunday.
He has been snapped up by Charlie Fellowes for the French 2000 and 1000 Guineas – where he will take on two big Gosden runners having just been dumped as the stable’s No1 jockey.
Shoemark, 29, was expected to ride Gosden’s Detain and Zanzoun in the colts’ and fillies’ Classics respectively, but now he’ll be riding against them at Longchamp aboard Luther and Shes Perfect.
Gosden gave Shoemark the elbow just a few days after his defeat on Field Of Gold in the Guineas last Saturday, after which he apologised for riding with ‘too much confidence’ in the wake of criticism from his boss.
He has faced plenty of scrutiny since replacing Frankie Dettori at Clarehaven, and his fast-finishing second in the big one at Newmarket was clearly the final straw for Gosden.
Newmarket-based Fellowes has been a long-time ally of Shoemark and he has given the jockey his firm backing.
Fellowes said: “The Gosden gig is a tough gig, there is a lot of pressure and I’ve no doubt he is up to a job like that.
“For whatever reason it’s not worked out, but one man’s loss is another man’s gain.
“I’m gutted for him but from a selfish point of view it’s great for me because I want him on as many of my horses as possible.
“Jim Crowley and Rossa Ryan had been riding work for me and they were in line to ride on Sunday because I thought Kieran wouldn’t be available. Now he is, it was a no-brainer.
“I’m really appreciative of Jim and Rossa, they were very understanding when I spoke to them. I had discussions with my owners when we heard the news and they were keen to get Kieran.
“He is a brilliant jockey and we’ve got two good chances in Group 1s at Longchamp, which is great. It would be incredible to win a big one together.
“Both Luther and Shes Perfect are in brilliant form and I will come home very disappointed if they don’t run massive races.”
Shoemark still rode for Gosden on Wednesday, finishing last of seven in the Cheshire Oaks on Queen Of Thieves, and he will continue to pick up rides for the yard.
But Clarehaven runners will now be ridden by ‘the best jockey available’ in big races and Shoemark’s opportunities will be greatly reduced.
Gosden said: “We are looking to use the best available from now on. We have eight jockeys that are retained to ride for owners connected with the yard and I haven’t had a retained jockey since William Buick.
“There is no fallout but it is the ramifications of what happened over the weekend at Newmarket. We’ll now use the best available rider.”
Luther, who is a top-priced 20-1 for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains on Sunday, was second to Detain on his reappearance at Chelmsford and Fellowes reckons he is capable of improving past him.
Likewise Shes Perfect, who is 14-1 for the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches having finished second in a Group 3 in France on her return. She is expected to take a big step forward now.
Fellowes said: “I still am adamant Luther is one of the best horses we’ve ever had. We probably would have gone close to to beating Detain last time and I think we can improve more than Detain.
“He has a wicked turn of foot, he’s well balanced, he’ll go round the track beautifully, we just need a good draw.
“Shes Perfect is a big girl and she will improve no end for her run. I honestly couldn’t be happier with either of them.”
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