Kieran Shoemark Credit: PA:Press Association
Top jockey Kieran Shoemark: I’ve got it what it takes to replace Frankie Dettori in the biggest job in racing, he tells me how to ride certain horses – I can’t wait to discuss Royal Ascot with him
Following superstar jockey Frankie Dettori’s relocation to the USA last year, jockey Kieran Shoemark took over the mantle from the legendary Italian as number one jockey for trainers John & Thady Gosden.
Speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Royal Ascot odds, Shoemark said:
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Replacing Dettori as John & Thady Gosden’s number one jockey wasn’t daunting
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I always ring him for advice and he is always willing to pick up the phone if I need him
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I’ll definitely be speaking to him for advice ahead of Royal Ascot
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Dettori was a larger-than-life person and I do wonder who can replace him as the face of our sport
It wasn’t daunting replacing Frankie Dettori as number one jockey
Frankie was on his farewell tour and I was asked to come in and ride out and it propelled from there. I started riding a few and Frankie decided in his last year he didn’t want to ride any two year olds, so I did some maidens and novice races in his place and it went from there.
It wasn’t daunting really because it was a gradual transition. Frankie was very much still around – I was just going in and riding when I was needed. I was still riding for (trainer) Charlie Hills but there was no real pressure.
We were in talks and there was a bit of uncertainty as to what Frankie was going to do. At the beginning of this year there was speculation and rumours, and it came to a point where John and Thady and I were all on the same page.
I am there to do a job for John and Thady Gosden – I don’t look at it as replacing Frankie Dettori
I don’t look at it like that. I am there to do a job for John and Thady (Gosden, trainers). I don’t look at it as if I am replacing Frankie Dettori because I can’t. I know he was associated with Clarehaven for many years and if I did look at it like that, then it could have been very daunting.
It is one of the biggest jobs in racing. John and Thady were champion trainers last year. It is a huge opportunity and one I am going to grab with both hands.
I look forward to what is to come. It is fair to say it has been a little bit of a steady start, but we are still early into the season and hopefully we have some nice horses to appear very soon.
Frankie has been so helpful since going to America – I can’t wait to catch up with him at Royal Ascot
He has been so helpful. I speak to him often in America, I give him a call if I am riding a horse I don’t know much about such as Arrest or Emily Upjohn or Inspiral. I gave him a call because I was riding these horses for the first time and I know these horses a bit better now. Frankie is very willing to offer his advice.
He is over here next week and I will definitely be speaking to him on Monday before Royal Ascot. I’ll look forward to seeing him there – he won’t be far from the action!
He’s been fantastic. He’s been the face of our sport for many, many years and he is a household name. Ask any of the general public and they will know who Frankie Dettori is.
Although he was such an imposing and important figure in our industry, I always appreciated the generosity of his time. He always had so much time to offer.
I wasn’t surprised he left for the States and he is smashing it over there
No, I wasn’t surprised. He always said there was nothing left for him in Europe and I would have been surprised if he’d stayed riding here and done a complete U-turn. He did the right thing.
He seems very fresh and he sounds like he has a great way of life in America. It is not too taxing on the body, so fair play to him. He is obviously smashing it over there.
Not many people share Frankie’s personality and I do wonder who could replace him as the face of our sport
People underestimate how special Frankie was and is. Not many people share his personality traits as such a larger-than-life character but I do wonder who the next person could be.
Oisin Murphy has shown he is a great character but I think he is not quite so out there as he was two or three years ago – he has reigned it in a bit.
I initially felt a little bit of extra pressure – but I can only ride the horse that is under me
In January and February, I would probably have said yes to feeling extra pressure. I have had to quickly adapt and realise that I can only ride the horse that is under me and the race that is presented to me.
I go out every day and do the best job for my trainer and the owners. I try not to let the pressure get to me as there is no benefit allowing pressures like that to creep in.
This year will be the busiest Royal Ascot for me with between 15 and 20- rides on the cards
The biggest and the busiest for me, that is fair to say. Over the five days I will be looking at between 15 and 20 rides and some high profile ones among them.
Inspiral in the Queen Anne is one. She had a fantastic year last year, capping it off at the Breeders’ Cup. She returned in the Lockinge and needed the run, maybe more so than we anticipated. She has been in great order since.
Theory of Tides – I think he’ll run in the King Edward. Emily Upjohn has a couple of entries in the Prince of Wales and in the Hardwicke. Eben Shaddad had some nice juvenile form and ran well in the French Guineas I thought, and he will run in the Jersey Stakes. Jack Darcy could run in the Wolverton.
It is fair to say that Clarehaven might be a little light on quality this year – there is no big superstar like Enable.
I will take it day by day – I don’t have a target in mind. At the moment all I am thinking about is winning the Queen Anne as that would be a great way to kick off. I have only ever had one winner at Royal Ascot so I can’t be going there thinking about targets.
Every year I’ve ridden there I have been extremely well prepared. I walk the track the normal things. I won’t approach it any differently but naturally there will be more pressure.
Outside of racing – I love my rugby and cricket
Rugby, cricket, all sports really. I support Gloucester Rugby and used to go to Kingsholm a lot. My favourite player was James Simpson-Daniel. Myself, I used to play for Stow On The Wold – I was a scrumhalf surprisingly!
In the winter I go skiing every year. I love doing that, every January we go off for a week. I am a bit of a phase man too. I go through little phases. Fishing was a hobby for a while and I exhausted it for about six months and haven’t taken the rods out of the shed since!
I love a bit of Bruce Springsteen and Oasis to listen to on the long drive to race meetings
I listen to a lot of podcasts. Tailenders with Greg James, the Radio1 DJ, Felix White from the Maccabees and Jimmy Anderson. It is really worth listening to and it is very amusing.
And music wise I love bands like Oasis, a bit of Springsteen – he is the man. And also Sam Fender, he is brilliant.
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