Crowley shortens up in jockeys’ title bid
JIM CROWLEY, hoping to be crowned champion Flat jockey for the first time, now heads the title by two winners from Silvestre De Sousa, his nearest rival.
Crowley, who took the lead for the first time on Saturday after a treble at Windsor, is now 8-13 to wear the crown with De Sousa trading at 6-4.
“Although both riders were in the winner’s enclosure on Sunday, the momentum really is with Jim,” said David Stevens of Coral.
That is certainly reflected by a betting market that had Silvestre as short as 1-5 favourite less than a fortnight ago. Crowley, successful on Zhui Feng for Amanda Perrett, his sister-in-law, and Babyfact for Maclolm Saunders at Goodwood yesterday, said: “It’s nice to get my head in front.
“There’s seven weeks to go. You have to go out there and think you can win on everything, otherwise what’s the point in going out there?
“You’re only as good as the horses you’re riding. If you’re getting good rides, your confidence is up and you feel like you can win on anything.” Crowley, like so many leading Flat jockeys like Graham Lee and Dougie Costello, began as a jump jockey until switching 10 years ago.
“I started getting injured quite a lot. I kept breaking my collar bone,” said Crowley, who rode more than 300 jumps winners.
“Every time I landed it seemed it would break — so I made the switch, and I’ve never really looked back.”
Crowley has been helped by the appointment of agent Tony Hind, who helped both Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore, who both rode over jumps, to become champions on the Flat. Coral bet: 8-13 Jim Crowley, 6-4 Silvestre De Sousa, 14 James Doyle, 20 Ryan Moore, Luke Morris, 25 Oisin Murphy.
Aidan O’Brien had three winners at the Curragh yesterday with Somehow, who landed the Group Three Snow Fairy Fillies’ Stakes the highlight of a memorable afternoon.
She was partnered by Seamie Heffernan, who was also successful aboard Intelligence Cross in the other Group Three on the card, the Round Tower Stakes.
Donnacha O’Brien had got the day off to a great start for the O’Brien team when winning on Yucatan in the opener.