Simon Pearce

agreed

an absolute brilliant mid-race move, recognised the slow pace. An identical move was executed by Mark Coumbe over the SAME C&D on Paktolos when 2nd to Tripitaka. Two jockeys using their head. Now why cant they all get their clocks sorted in their heads?

agreed

no pics though ;)

Would be 30 responses if he got it wrong, nap ;)

^ miser

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Yes, I've had my doubts in the past but he was quick to react there so credit to him

It's a good question Roger - it is only counting, after all. It makes an amazing difference, and many jocks just seem to be completely inept at judging pace. It's a good angle, if you can spot those guys early in their career.

what I find amazing is when K Fallon was being interviewed and Chapman asked him would he be able to do a 12 second furlong if he was asked, and KF looked at him asif he was mad, and said "It's my job". So if it's THEIR job, how come theres 50 bad rides a day? Can only be one answer. Theyre riding the way they were instructed.

Partly riding to orders, but I think you would be surprised how many of them don't think the race through beforehand. I have given jockeys orders to ride in races, assuming (through form study) that certain things will happen in a race, for example, there is a front runner in the race, so sit behind the pace and challenge 2f out. In practice, the pace horse might be held up that day, so the jockey MUST be able to adapt to the conditions unfolding in front of them, but many of them either can't or wont, for fear of a bollocking from the owner. I think that is where someone like Kieren is a good judge, because he will ignore orders, if the race pans out unexpectedly. He has won hundreds of races riding against original orders, and probably lost a few too!

Roger, putting the riding/pulling to orders aside, I genuinely think most jockeys haven't a clue as to the pace in a race. But RUK showed a great example last year of Fallon riding 2 winners over the same CD at Kempton on the same night one from the front and one coming from virtually last, both clocked an almost identical time. Fallon has a clock.

Fallon got clocked

slightly worse ride there. went from a promising position to cutting inside into trouble etc etc, big drifter too

He'll go far then ;-)

Yup ;)