Toomey Completes Amazing Comeback, Moore Sidelined, Marvelous Makin
More jockeys hitting the headlines this weekend with one truly incredible comeback, an extended spell on the sidelines for the champ and a brilliant riding performance at York. We also take a look back at the big Group 1 race of the weekend, the Darley July Cup.
Toomey Returns From Horror Fall
The phrase, “back from the dead” is perhaps a little overused and often somewhat of an exaggeration. Not in this case. The seriousness of the injuries Toomey suffered in a fall at Perth two years ago, left the jockey dead for six seconds. Thankfully he was resuscitated at the track, but even then his prospects looked bleak to say the least as he was given only a 3% chance of survival. An induced coma, metal plate in skull and 157 nights in hospital later, Toomey was not only back on his feet but back in the saddle. The chance of a dream victory on his first ride back looked to be pretty good, as his mount Kings Grey was sent off as the 1/3 favourite at Perth. The horse clearly hadn’t read the script however and had to be pulled up before the second last. That certainly doesn’t detract from Toomey’s achievement though with the jockey summing it up best himself, “Being alive is near enough a fairytale, never mind being back riding”. Inspirational stuff and worth remembering the next time your top Cheltenham tip comes a cropper!
Moore Injury Worse Than First Feared
Following Thursday’s starting stalls tangle aboard Newton’s Law that resulted in his injury, Ryan Moore was initially stood down for the weekend as a consequence of his neck complaint. Initial reports seemed to suggest the three time jockey would be back riding within a week, but it seems the injury has turned out to be a little more serious than suspected. The latest prognosis has Ryan out for at least a month, with the full extent of his injury still unknown at the time of writing. Moore is reported as being comfortable and did manage to walk away from the incident, so fingers crossed he will be back to his majestic best before too long. That said, his chances of winning the 2015 flat jockey’s championship look slim, with Moore out to double digit odds whilst Silvestre De Sousa is now odds-on favourite.
Makin and Muhaarar Share The Headlines
Saturday’s card up at York looked to be the most competitive of the weekend. Looking at the fields, most jockeys would have been happy with just the one winner on the day. Not Philip Makin though who helped himself to a remarkable 4799/1 four-timer on the card. A quick double for David O’Meara was followed up with victory aboard Master Carpenter in the John Smiths Cup and Keith Dalgleish’s Dark Defender in the closing nursery handicap. That haul moved Makin to within two wins of the leader in the race to be Yorkshire’s top jockey.
Newmarket played host to the highest class racing of the day, with the highlight being the Group 1 Darley July Cup. Billed as Brazen Beau vs our tip Muhaarar beforehand, it was 25/1 outsider Tropics who came to within a whisker of causing an upset. Brazen Beau faded out of it and Muhaarar looked to have too much to do heading into the final half furlong. Muhaarar has devastating speed when he hits top gear though and just got up to prevail by a nose. With this win, Charles Hills three-year-old completed a famous double following his win in the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot and looks the top sprinter in training at present.
