FREE WIND, one of the horses Kieran Shoemark was blamed by some for performing badly on at Glorious Goodwood, has been retired. The news comes a day after Inspiral, the horse who Shoemark was replaced on by Ryan Moore in the Jacques le Marois, fell out the stalls in yesterday’s Group 1 test. I’ve been called all sorts of names on social media in defending Shoemark in recent weeks.
It’s an odd one. I honestly don’t think anything he has done needs defending. That’s just my view.
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uk Let’s make one thing clear. I’ve never said Shoemark’s a Frankie Dettori or Moore. I’ve never said he’s the best rider on the planet.
I have no idea where his talent will take him. That’s the point. I see Shoemark as a thoroughly decent person with massive potential as a jockey.
The hope is that with the support of John and Thady Gosden he can take his career to the next level. Presumably that is what they saw in him! I very much doubt that level will be via Inspiral and Emily Upjohn. It now definitely won’t be from Free Wind.
It might well be by riding Lead Artist, who Shoemark gave a peach to in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, or Field of Gold, the juvenile who bolted up at Newmarket in July. I don’t have any more details on Free Wind’s retirement, but it would not take a genius to imagine she wasn’t right at Goodwood. The daughter of Galileo has always had her quirks but also plenty of talent, landing the Group 2 Middleton at York.
Running in the colours of George Strawbridge she won six of her 15 starts and nearly half a million pounds in prize money. A fine stick. Those slating Shoemark for his efforts and positioning at Goodwood might have put in a call to the Gosdens to check she was all good that day.
It seems they could not be bothered. Some are judging Shoemark on three horses, namely Free Wind, Inspiral and Emily Upjohn. It’s just ridiculous.
All three are definitely past their best, even if the latter pair manage to win another Group 1. Shoemark actually left Goodwood having had a fine week. Just imagine if Inspiral had fallen out the Marois stalls under Shoemark.
The social world would have imploded. As it is, Moore is Moore and it’s just down to the mare. That’s the world we live in.
I really hope the Gosdens and Shoemark remain a team for many years to come. The jockey’s rides on two horses at Windsor this term - Lucentio and Cat Ninja - were beauties but neither ever get a mention. Some just want Shoemark sacked.
And, such is life, there are people out there that think those who write that are heroes. I’m just not one of them. And that’s my opinion.
Slate me if you want. Meanwhile, star miler Rosallion could still clash with the brilliant Marois winner Charyn at Ascot later in the season. Much has been written about whether connections have pulled up stumps with Rosallion over the last week or so.
A respiratory infection ruled the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes hero out of the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. However, I caught up with Rosallion’s trainer Richard Hannon at Ascot on Saturday and he was quick to confirm that there is a strong chance Rosallion will be out again this term. “He’s not finished for the season,” Hannon said.
“He could easily run again if the conditions are right. “Something like the QEII at Ascot is quite possible but he wouldn’t want soft ground. “He won’t be going to the Breeders’ Cup.
But if the ground is right here he can run again.” A responsible gambler is someone who: Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here..
