Byline: David Milnes, Newmarket correspondent

DUAL Royal Ascot-winning jockey Nicky Mackay has made the shock decision to quit the saddle at the age of 36.

A former top apprentice with Luca Cumani, Mackay enjoyed both career highlights at the royal meeting when landing the King George V Handicap on Admiral in 2004 and the Britannia Handicap on Sagramor seven years later.

Son of former top jockey Allan Mackay, Nicky has spent the past decade working for John Gosden but suddenly hung up his boots after partnering the Queen's Well Spent for the Newmarket stable at Goodwood last Thursday.

During his 20 years in the saddle, Mackay partnered 533 winners domestically of which 100 were for Luca Cumani and 151 for the Gosdens. His best tally annually was 57 in 2006 when he registered his only Group 3 victory on the William Haggas-trained Suggestive in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

He also enjoyed much success in India the winter before last but recently turned down a job offer from that quarter to explore options outside of the sport.

Of his decision, Mackay said: "I've been in the game 20 years and it's just come to an end really. I'm 36 and the rides were drying up a bit. It had got to a point that all of last year I didn't want to go racing for just one ride with no hope. Also, there are so many retained jockeys these days that it's becoming increasingly hard to get a look in."

Paying tribute to his recent employers, Mackay said: "I must say many thanks to John Gosden, who has kept me going in recent years. I went to John's when I left Luca's and he gave me a second chance. I left on good terms and can't thank him enough."

On the timing of his decision, Mackay added: "It was playing on my mind a bit this year and then my grandad Eric Eldin passed away in July. You get to 36 and wonder what the next chapter is. You can ride as long as you want like Frankie [Dettori] as long as you have the horses. As much as I loved it you get to a point where you have to think about something different. It wasn't an easy decision but it made sense."

Regarding the future, he added: "Things are a bit up in the air. I've been in the racing game since I was 15 and never took any time out from it. I just want to have a break and make the right decision about my future."

On the highlights of his career, he said: "Both are at Royal Ascot. When I was just 18, I had my first ride there for Sir Michael Stoute and I won the King George V Handicap on Admiral. First ride, first winner - I thought it was easy but I enjoyed the second one more on Sagramor in the Britannia Handicap as I knew by then how hard it is to win at Royal Ascot."

Mackay, whose brother Jamie also quit the saddle a few years ago and now works for Charlie Appleby, added: "I'm from a racing family and the sport has been good to me. I'm lucky enough to have had 20 years in the saddle. I want to stay in the sport but just not riding and I'm walking away in one piece. I had a bad fall four years ago at Chelmsford that I was lucky to come back from."

'I'm 36 and the rides were drying up a bit. It had got to a point that all of last year I didn't want to go racing for just one ride with no hope'

CAPTION(S):

Nicky Mackay: rode for 20 years and partnered 533 winners in Britain

Stewards rise, i think Ian Brennan is based in America or had been up to recently as far as i know..
No-won-sun, Michael J M Murphy is now based in Australia.

Lorna Vincent went to work as a workrider in America and as far as i know is still there.