Good morning from the Roodee! Today, one of Britain’s beloved Flat tracks will host two important Classic trials – the Chester Vase and Chester Oaks. However, the hot topic right now is Kieran Shoemark’s recent dismissal as the No. 1 jockey for John and Thady Gosden’s formidable Newmarket stable—a decision that comes just four days after he guided Field Of Gold to a close second in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Following that race, John Gosden appeared fairly philosophical about the outcome. He noted, “We were a bit off the pace, and honestly, the winner got ahead of us, and we just ran out of track.” He felt that had there been roughly another 25 yards, the results could have been different, adding, “The ground can be slick when it’s firm, and with a bit of a tailwind, they can get a jump on you. Unfortunately, it got away from us as we came into the Dip. He was making up ground, but it was just too late.”
On reflection, it seems Gosden has decided that Shoemark deserves some of the blame for the race’s result, warranting a change in stable jockey. That said, it’s worth mentioning that some owners already have their own preferred jockeys in the yard.
It feels a bit harsh for Shoemark, really. Sure, William Buick won with Field Of Gold, but his position at the start gave him an edge, allowing him to secure a better spot right away. It’s not like Shoemark did anything glaringly wrong—Buick’s extensive racing experience certainly helped him capitalize on his advantage.
Interestingly, despite the news, Shoemark is still set to ride two horses from the stable today: The Queen of Thieves at 2:35 and Manier at 4:10. It seems that Gosden will be opting for the “best available” jockeys moving forward.
In other news at Chester, today’s card features the Chester Vase, which has four entries for the Derby, including Ramborn, Lazy Glyphs, and Pinholes. Action gets underway at 1:30 PM with the Lily Agnes Stakes, featuring an odds-on favorite from Stall 1.
