Pricewise's dig at McCoy in the RP was a bit harsh. He said, McCoy would not the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or even 4th choice for him if he owned Denman.
He wouldn't be my idea of the best pilot for Denman, I would have gone for a sober Carberry...........Nina perhaps
Best choice for DENMAN. If the horse is becoming increasingly assertive, he will be handled by a jockey renowned for asserting his will - which is exactly what you want from a pilot, at any time, let alone this level.
But, Mr Jake, the ride by McCoy is nothing to do with Sam Thomas! Thomas has been ensconced as the first pilot to Tom George for some time, but what he did wrong was to try to let KAUTO STAR make up his own mind (wrong decision - the horse needs the jockey to indicate 'hup!' or the least he'll do is bulldoze his fence), with the result they both hit the deck - actually, he hit the deck in the Betfair Chase and the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2008. He got jocked off MASTER MINDED in the Tingle Creek. He then fell off DENMAN in the Totesport Bowl at Aintree in 2009. He'd been hot-housed by Nicholls in a way that few second jockeys have ever been. But in the process, he demonstrated that bringing on talent, precocious as his was, is better done over time, learning any number of skills on the way (as Walsh and McCoy have done, and countless others). He was let down by his inexperience and what, in the end, looked like a distinct lack of riding intelligence, if not bottle.
Gal - I don't see my use of the word 'bullying' anywhere, do you? Being assertive is - as any 'human resources' course will tell you - not about bullying, but about indicating who is taking responsibility. In this case, as in all racing, it's the jockey, not the horse. You don't need to knock seven bells out of a horse to give it an assertive (and no, I haven't said 'aggressive', either) ride. If DENMAN's getting squirly as he ages, McCoy is not going to have any of it. There might be other jockeys who could manage, but why not go for someone who's proven at convincing horses to do their job? It's just good hiring practice, isn't it?
But, Mr Jake, the ride by McCoy is nothing to do with Sam Thomas! Thomas has been ensconced as the first pilot to Tom George for some time, but what he did wrong was to try to let KAUTO STAR make up his own mind (wrong decision - the horse needs the jockey to indicate 'hup!' or the least he'll do is bulldoze his fence), with the result they both hit the deck - actually, he hit the deck in the Betfair Chase and the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2008. He got jocked off MASTER MINDED in the Tingle Creek. He then fell off DENMAN in the Totesport Bowl at Aintree in 2009. He'd been hot-housed by Nicholls in a way that few second jockeys have ever been. But in the process, he demonstrated that bringing on talent, precocious as his was, is better done over time, learning any number of skills on the way (as Walsh and McCoy have done, and countless others). He was let down by his inexperience and what, in the end, looked like a distinct lack of riding intelligence, if not bottle.
Gal - I don't see my use of the word 'bullying' anywhere, do you? Being assertive is - as any 'human resources' course will tell you - not about bullying, but about indicating who is taking responsibility. In this case, as in all racing, it's the jockey, not the horse. You don't need to knock seven bells out of a horse to give it an assertive (and no, I haven't said 'aggressive', either) ride. If DENMAN's getting squirly as he ages, McCoy is not going to have any of it. There might be other jockeys who could manage, but why not go for someone who's proven at convincing horses to do their job? It's just good hiring practice, isn't it?
For me it doesnt matter how suitable mccoy is thomas has done everything right on him. Perhaps nichols should jock ruby off if he feels Carbery etc is better suited!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought it was pretty obvious from the press reports that the driving force behind the change is Findlay.
I wouldn't let Sam Thomas ride my bike.