‘It was like playing in a World Cup finals again ’– Owen beams after jockey debut
MICHAEL OWEN’S five-month quest to become a jockey ended in an honourable second in the Prince’s Countryside Fund Charity Race at Ascot yesterday.
For someone so inexperienced, Owen did everything right; he got a good start, he hugged the inside rail to take the shortest route and kept his mount, Calder Prince, balanced.
However, when push came to shove, it was Golden Wedding, ridden by the vastly more experienced point-to-point rider Tom Chatfield-Roberts, who pulled away in the last furlong to win by two and a quarter lengths.
“I knew everyone was keeping an eye out as to whether I fell off or not, but I had the time of my life,” said Owen, the former England footballer who also played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United.
“The plan was to get around safely. I’ve had so much help and my phone went mad this morning – it was like playing in a World Cup finals of a horse.
“I can’t keep the smile off my face. It was better than I expected and we seemed to go really quick early on; that’s probably the fastest I’ve ever been on a horse. He slipped through to the front off the bend, but it was a long final furlong and he got very tired.”
Although he is unsure whether he will continue to ride or “just put it away now” he said: “I loved it, but not eating was hard. I’ve lost 20lb in the past three weeks and I’m going to stop at every service station on the way home.
“It’s not a World Cup but
I’ve spent five months working towards it and in my little world it has been a big event. It hasn’t been easy to get here.
“In any sport, it is hard to attain the top level and until you do it you can only marvel at those at the top.
“I’ve had so many people help me. Hayley Turner gave me a lesson and so did Richard Kingscote. I’ve had messages from Frankie [Dettori], Tony McCoy, Barry Geraghty and Ruby Walsh. Everyone was wishing me well.” (© Daily Telegraph, London)