Based at Oakwood Stables, East Witton Road, Middleham, Micky Hammond has a wealth of experience within thoroughbred horses racing. A top jockey in the 1980s and established horse trainer who knows how to get the best out of his horses. Not bad from a young man who didn't come from a racing background! With an eye for spotting a good horse and known as one of the best-dressed trainers in the game, he's one of those people you just can't help but like. Micky, how long have you been involved in horse racing? I've been in racing over 40 yrs, having never ridden before leaving school! I actually wrote a letter to Epsom horse trainer Brian Swift about becoming an apprentice jockey but started working weekends for local trainer TM Jones while in my final year at school in preparation. When I left school, Mr. Jones asked if I would like to work with him, the bonus being I could still live at home. If you weren't a jockey or a trainer what would you have done? I would have gone into the building trade. What memories do you have about riding Hardy Lad to victory in the Scottish National? He jumped well throughout the race, taking it up in the home straight. It was a brilliant feeling and one I will never forget. Do you feel a lot of pressure training horses or is it a relaxed career that you enjoy all the time? A lot of situations are beyond our control when dealing with animals, staff, and jockeys. It's good when its good but can be very lonely when it's not. What race would you love to win before you retire? The Champion Hurdle. What do you do to relax when you get the time? I love eating and drinking in nice places. Also, attending football matches. Cornerstone Lad looks an absolute star and after winning the Fighting Fifth what plans do you have for him next? Cornerstone's gutsy win will see him next at Haydock 18th March. How is the old fella Alderbrook Lad? It looks like he’s still enjoying racing at the ripe old age of 13. Alderbrook Lad is in fine form, he is going to have his final season contending (and enjoying himself) around Cartmel. Do you have any dark horses for my readers to follow this season? Rory And Me and an unnamed Mahler gelding.
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A big thank you to former NH jockey and now manager at Apple Tree Stud Robert Choc Thornton for answering questions for my blog. Choc, have you always been involved in horse racing? No, I started at David Nicholson’s when I was 14, so probably about 27 years. At what age did you become a jockey? I was 16 when I received my first license. You have won so many big races including the Champion Hurdle, the Arkle
Challenge Trophy and the Kim Muir to name just a few, which race sticks out in
your mind? They are all important and very difficult to single one out. Champion chase
was special and my 2 Arkles. I can tell you a race that I’m disappointed not to win and
that is the National. A dream was unfulfilled. Did you have a favourite horse that was close to your heart? Again very difficult to pick. But if I had to I’d say My Way De Solzen. If you weren't a jockey what would you have done? Homeless! The day you retired due to injuries was a sad day for all involved in the racing
game, did you have an idea what you would do next? Yes, I was fortunate to have direction Paul Dunkley and I had been planning the stud for quite some time. Although I was fortunate enough for the position to fall in my lap as when the initial injury struck I had no idea what the future held. You were dubbed the unluckiest jockey in racing after suffering countless
injuries, now am a runner and injuries are the most depressing things ever, how
did you come back each time?
I hate that headline. It was the Daily Mail trying to sensationalise. I was very lucky and suffered no more than any other jockey that pursues what the loved. Sounds sadistic but I used to love pushing through pain barrier showing Doctors I could do what they said was not possible. I was told 12 months for a knee injury I got back in 5. So whatever I was told I’d half.
Did you ever think about becoming a trainer am sure you would have been
brilliant? No, I know I’m not sharp enough to be a trainer, I wouldn’t be good enough at
the PR and as a jockey, I’d only seen the good side of training. All I had to do was get on
and see how fast they could go. What do you like to do in your spare time? Anything with my 2 boys William and Wolfie. Love taking them to Rugby. I love snowboarding, Whistler (Canada) is my fav destination. Also, I like to watch any sport played to a decent level.
You had a special relationship with the great Voy Por Ustedes, what was he like? He was actually a bit mad, but the best always are. At the time it felt like he was mine.
Now you're a stud manager at Apple Tree Stud, what is a typical day? It depends on the time of year. Generally, I rise about 6am have an hour with my boys then go to work which is on my doorstep. I do all the office work and admin and spend a lot of time just watching the horses. You learn something new every day. I do all the tractor work,
topping, hedge cutting, hay, etc and go racing if we have a runner. I spend plenty of time
sifting through sales catalogues and attending sales both buying and selling, looking at
pedigrees and allocating the right stallion to the broodmares we have. Can you give my readers a few horses to follow for the future? Yes, we have an unnamed colt at Archie Watsons Showcasing x Astonishing 17. He will hopefully be running over 6/7f in May June time. Gold Maze who was bred by AppleTree is entered in the Irish Derby you can get big prices for an each-way ante-post bet. Thanks again and good luck for the future.
Hollie Doyle (picture) Hollie Doyle is one of the biggest names in female racing who started her career with David Evans at the age of 17. A broken collarbone in 2017 saw her challenge for the amateur jockey title put on hold after she was leading in May but that didn’t stop her from winning the Upavon Stakes for Richard Hannon onboard Billesdon Bess once she was back in the saddle. Plenty more winners followed and 2019 has seen her ride an incredible 700 plus times. Archie Watson is one trainer who benefits from her great riding skills. Hollie, have you always been involved in racing? Yes, I’ve always been around racehorse all my life my parents both rode as jockeys also. At what age did you become a jockey? 16. You have ridden plenty of nice winners over the years do you have a favourite? No favourites, in particular, I just appreciate them all. If you weren’t riding horses what would you do? No idea, something within horses still though! If you could ride any horse in history who would it be? Frankel. I love 2-year- old racing and you ride plenty of Archie Watson’s speed machines how exciting has that been? This is an exciting time of year as the yearlings are starting to come into training so you're always on the look for a potential star. What has been the highlight of your racing career so far? Winner at Shergar Cup & riding listed winner in France. Thanks to Hollie Doyle for taking time to answer questions for my blog.
Born in Kildare, Ireland in 1999, David Egan is one of my favourite Flat racing jockeys. He was destined to be a jockey as racing runs right through his family. His mother Sandra Hughes trained Lieutenant Colonel who won the Christmas Hurdle and Thunder And Roses who won the Irish Grand National in 2015. His dad is of course jockey John Egan who won the July Cup with Les Arcs and recently won the Listed Chalice Stakes at Ascot on board the Jane Chapple-Hyam trained Love So Deep. In fact, his Grandfather was the legend himself Dessie Hughes, and then we have his uncle who is Richard Hughes, who himself was a magnificent jockey and is now making a name for himself as a trainer to be reckoned with. I think David has a lot to live up to but by the looks of things, he is well up to the task. David Egan rode out his claim back on June 2018 onboard Keeper’s Choice at Newbury. Since then David has gone from strength to strength winning some big races including a brilliant ride on the Cheveley Park owned Pilaster who won the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood in August 2018 for Roger Varian and another one for his boss Roger Varian is the impressive Daahyeh who won the Group 2 Albany Stakes at Ascot this year and went on to finish second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Group 1 race at Santa Anita ridden by William Buick this time. As you may know, I love 2-year-old racing but I really don’t like betting on a first timeout 2-year-old as you never know what will happen when an unraced horse hits the track. One statistic that did interest me about David Egan was the nice first timeout winners he rides for Roger Varian when under 10/1. His first unraced 2-year-old since losing his claim was Ideological back in September 2018 at Kempton. David gave the well-supported newcomer a perfect ride by settling her at the rear until she found her feet and won going away in the end. Bayroot was another peach of a ride by David Egan. Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Exceed And Excel colt was 8/1 for his debut at Kempton and it was the same again by David. Bayroot was settled in the rear before making headway and staying onto win by a length. One owner that likes to use David Egan is Mr Nurlan Bizakov. David rode two nice unraced 2-year-olds for Mr Bizakov back in 2018. The first was Nausha who made her debut at Newbury back in October 2018. The Kingman filly was sent off 11/4 joint-favourite. David again rode the perfect race and won cosy in the end. Nausha went on to win a Group 3 race at York that season. Next up was Lastochka, the Australia filly who funnily enough won the same day and again David held Lastochka up before delivering her with a strong run to win by a neck at the Kempton evening meeting. I think I have saved the best unraced Roger Varian horse that promising jockey David Egan rode on debut. Pierre Lapin was purchased for a 140,000gns in October 2018 for owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and made his debut in May this year. Pierre Lapin was sent off the even-money favourite and David Egan did what he does best with unraced 2-year-olds and brought him into the race in his own time before Pierre Lapin quickened clear to win comfortably in what was an impressive run and has since gone on to win the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.
Conclusion: As I said it’s a gamble with unraced 2-year-olds but when you see David Egan on a Roger Varian debutant under 10/1 give it a second glance as it could be worth the gamble. Thanks for reading and good luck.
