SUBLIME SUPER SUB SPENCER RESULTS IN A RONALDO HAT-TRICK at WINDSOR
Rio Ronaldo returned to the venue of 2 of his previous 3 wins to score a decisive victory at Windsor yesterday evening under a supreme ride by Jamie Spencer. He now has a hat-trick of wins at Windsor which we believe is due to the strong pace the sprint races are run at.
We got a call from Tony Hind (Jim Crowley's agent) to say Jim was not able to make the races. Tony, doing his job, suggested some of his other lads who were available. When I got to the track we looked at possible substitutes with the owners and Paul Arlotte (aka the Professor), who had made the trip over form Guernsey with his wife Michelle, suggested Jamie Spencer who hadn't got a ride in the race. It was agreed Jamie was our man as he is known for his hold-up rides which would suit Ronaldo.
We were all delighted Jamie had agreed to ride and what a great ride he gave the horse. He knew there would be pace as the other jockeys were keen to go to the far side rail as the ground was easier than the official going description of Good to Firm/Good in Places. The ground was as easy as a ripe avocado so I won't be asking the Clerk of the Course to do my grocery shopping!
Jamie immediately took a pull on the horse leaving the stalls, had him settled in last, took another pull when the horse was ready to go but the jockey wasn't. Jamie manoeuvred his way through the horses coming back to him, never touched the horse with the shillelagh and rode him "hands and heels" to the line to win by half a length. A sublime ride on a talented horse who Jamie sussed straight away.
The Owners were delighted with the ride and the win and all were on at juicy odds which added some icing to the fruitcake. The photo below (courtesy of Ann Graham) shows Rio Ronaldo returning to the Winner's Enclosure with his regular lad, Hugo Meunier, our driver, Alan Blower, and our super-sub jockey acknowledging the applause of Rio's thrilled owners.
We got a call from Tony Hind (Jim Crowley's agent) to say Jim was not able to make the races. Tony, doing his job, suggested some of his other lads who were available. When I got to the track we looked at possible substitutes with the owners and Paul Arlotte (aka the Professor), who had made the trip over form Guernsey with his wife Michelle, suggested Jamie Spencer who hadn't got a ride in the race. It was agreed Jamie was our man as he is known for his hold-up rides which would suit Ronaldo.
We were all delighted Jamie had agreed to ride and what a great ride he gave the horse. He knew there would be pace as the other jockeys were keen to go to the far side rail as the ground was easier than the official going description of Good to Firm/Good in Places. The ground was as easy as a ripe avocado so I won't be asking the Clerk of the Course to do my grocery shopping!
Jamie immediately took a pull on the horse leaving the stalls, had him settled in last, took another pull when the horse was ready to go but the jockey wasn't. Jamie manoeuvred his way through the horses coming back to him, never touched the horse with the shillelagh and rode him "hands and heels" to the line to win by half a length. A sublime ride on a talented horse who Jamie sussed straight away.
The Owners were delighted with the ride and the win and all were on at juicy odds which added some icing to the fruitcake. The photo below (courtesy of Ann Graham) shows Rio Ronaldo returning to the Winner's Enclosure with his regular lad, Hugo Meunier, our driver, Alan Blower, and our super-sub jockey acknowledging the applause of Rio's thrilled owners.
