Ones to watch

Frankie Dettori

Born: December 15, 1970

Nationality: Italian

Regular Jockey for: Godolphin

Height: 5ft 5ins

Frankie’s father, Gianfranco, was one of the greatest Italian jockeys. Amongst his successes were the 1975 and 1976 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Frankie started his apprenticeship in Newmarket, in 1985, with fellow Italian Luca Cumani. The following winter he returned to Italy and rode 17 winners.

His first UK winner was Lizzy Hare, and was achieved on June 9, 1987 at Goodwood. However, his first ever career win was on Rif in 1986, at the Italian racecourse of Turin.

In 1990, Frankie rode 100 winners in a season (the first teenager to do so since Lester Piggott). He also won his first Group 1 race, with a masterful ride on Mark of Distinction in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, at Ascot.

By the summer of 2003, Frankie had won a phenomenal 298 Group races, including 116 Group 1, 86 Group 2 and 96 Group 3.

Dubai Millennium, who won nine out of ten races during his racing career, including The Prince of Wales’s Stakes and the Dubai World Cup in 2000, is the best horse that Frankie has ever ridden and also his personal favourite.

Frankie’s ‘Magnificent Seven’, achieved at Ascot on 28 September 1996, is his greatest racing memory. On this day he won all seven races on the card, at the staggering odds of 6,720/1.

He finally won the World’s most famous race, the Epsom Derby, in 2007 on board Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Authorized in impressive style.

He then went on to win the French equivalent, the Prix du Jockey Club, at Chantilly the following day on Lawman.

Frankie has been fortunate on the track and has incurred no significant racing injuries.

However, in 2000 he was involved in a serious aircraft accident, whilst travelling to Goodwood racecourse with Ray Cochrane. The aircraft crashed, killing the pilot and leaving Ray seriously injured. Frankie was lucky to escape with only minor injuries.

In recent years Frankie has partnered many top horses such as Doyen, Sulamani, Dubawi, Refuse To Bend, Iffraaj and the ill-fated Electrocutionist.

Frankie has won almost every major race in the flat calendar, but was last Champion Jockey in 2004

Ryan Moore

Born: September 18, 1983

Nationality: British

Regular Jockey for: Sir Michael Stoute

Height: 5ft 7ins

Ryan’s father is the highly regarded flat trainer, Gary Moore, who is noted for training the well-known sire of racehorses, Karinga Bay.

Ryan’s racing background meant that becoming a jockey was a natural progression, and he began his race riding career as an apprentice for his father.

Ryan now rides regularly for a number of British trainers, but gets the majority of his rides from Sir Michael Stoute

Ryan’s brother, Jamie, is also making his mark in the racing world. An aspiring jump jockey, he is based with champion trainer Martin Pipe, for whom he has ridden a number of winners.

Ryan had a tremendous season in 2003, notching up 59 winners and claiming the award for leading apprentice of the year.

Ryan won the Jockeys Championship in 2006 and in the process rode his first Group 1 winner. Notnowcato won the Juddmonte International Stakes for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

Ryan unfortunately missed much of the 2007 season due to a broken arm he sustained in mid-March at Lingfield. This was a huge dent to regaining his champion jockey title.

He did regain the title in 2008 though, with an impressive 186 wins, before repeating the feat in 2009, a year in which he also won the Breeders' Cup Turf and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

2009 saw him claim 178 wins and over £3m in win prize money alone

Within racing circles, Ryan has great respect for his father, and whilst growing up, always admired the talented jump jockeys Richard Dunwoody and Tony McCoy.

Johnny Murtagh

Born: May 14, 1970

Nationality: Irish

Height: 5ft 6ins

Regular jockey for: Aidan O'Brien

Before deciding to become a professional jockey, Johnny was tempted to join Blackburn Rovers’ youth football team.

However, after considerable persuasion from several friends, he joined the Irish Apprentice Jockey’s School, in Co. Kildare.

He rode his first winner, Chicago Style, at Limerick in 1987.

Johnny won approximately £10 million in prize money for owners between 2000 and 2003.

He has also been the champion jockey in Ireland on three separate occasions.

Sinndar is the best horse Johnny has ever ridden. He partnered him to win both the Vodafone Derby and Irish Derby, as well as the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, all in 2000.

Sinndar is not the only horse Johnny has ridden to win the Derby. In 2005 he romped clear of the field for a very impressive win on Motivator trained by Michael Bell for the Elite Racing Club.

Johnny was also the regular jockey for talented filly Soviet Song. In 2004, the partnership won two Group 1 races, including the Cantor Odds Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Here she beat a strong field of colts, including the Ultimatebet.com 2,000 Guineas winner Haafhd.

Johnny has great respect for leading Irish trainer John Oxx, who over the years has provided him with rides on many top class horses.

Johnny has been lucky not to sustain any major injuries through racing. However, he had a minor set back when straining his back at Ascot in 2003.

Johnny has won almost every Major race in flat racing, and 2008 was an annus mirabilis as he rode 19 Group One winners in one season, partnering some of the greatest horses of our time including Mastercraftsman, Yeats, Henrythenavigator and Duke of Marmalade

2009 was no less impressive with 10 Group 1 victories including the Irish Derby, QEII Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Ascot Gold Cup, St James Palace Stakes and an Irish 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas Double.

Jamie Spencer

Born: June 8, 1980

Nationality: Irish

Height: 5ft 7ins

Regular Jockey for: Various, including Michael Bell, James Fanshawe and Brian Meehan

Jamie’s father was a trainer and influenced him to become a jockey.

As an apprentice, Jamie’s talent began to be realised and he went on to win the 1999 Irish apprentices’ championship.

Jamie had his first classic success when partnering Tommy Stack’s Tarascon in the 1998 Irish 1000 Guineas at the age of 17.

Jamie has been fortunate enough to ride some top quality horses, such as the Aidan O’Brien-trained Hawk Wing, winner of three Group 1 races. Jamie rode the horse when he was second to Sir Alex Ferguson’s record-breaking horse, Rock of Gibraltar, in the 2002 Sagitta 2,000 Guineas.

One of Jamie’s most impressive wins was on the Brian Meehan trained David Junior in the Group 1 Dudai Duty Free Stakes at the Dubai Racing Carnival in 2006. A race that was worth £1.7million to the winner!

Endless Hall provided Jamie with one of his best rides, when winning the Singapore Airlines International Cup in 2001.

He has ridden a large number of winners in Britain and Ireland and has achieved victories in several big races. Amongst his winning rides have been Five Dynasties in the King Edward VII Stakes and Moscow Ballet in the Hampton Court Stakes, both at Royal Ascot.

He has also won a St. Leger on Brian Boru in 2003, and twice won the Irish 1,000 Guineas

Jamie became Champion Jockey in 2005, riding 180 winners in the process as a freelance jockey.

He then repeated the feat in 2007, riding 190 winners, but shared the title with Seb Sanders, who rode the same amount.

In 2009 he partnered Sariska to a British and Irish Oaks double.

Richard Hills

Born: January 22, 1963

Nationality: British

Height: 5ft 6ins

Regular Jockey for: Owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum

Richard’s father, Barry, was a jockey and is now one of Britain’s leading racehorse trainers.

His twin brother, Michael, is also a professional jockey.

Richard was influenced to become a jockey by Harry Thompson-Jones and Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Richard’s first winner was Border Dawn, at Doncaster, on October 26, 1979. His first Group 1 victory was on Ashal, in the 1990 Ascot Gold Cup.

His first Classic triumph was when he partnered Harayir to win the 1995 Madagans 1,000 Guineas, a race he has since won again with Lahan in 2000 and in 2009 on Ghanaati.

Richard also won the 2004 Ultimatebet.com 2,000 Guineas with Haafhd, a horse trained by his father.

One horse Richard particularly enjoyed riding is Nayef, whom he rode to victory in the 2002 Juddmonte Stakes at York, and the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2003.

The former legendary trainer, Major Dick Hern, is someone within racing who Richard always respected.

Richard has been fairly lucky throughout his riding career in terms of injuries, having sustained “a few bangs but nothing too serious”.

2009 was a sensational year for Richard as he rode 374 winners at a 24% strike rate returning a staggering £48.54 £1 level stakes profit, including 5 Group 1 wins and one Classic in the form of the 1,000 Guineas

As retained jockey for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum a huge proportion of Richard's rides come in the famous blue and white colours of the Sheikh, one of the most prodigious racehorse owners of current times.

Richard Hughes

Born: January 11, 1973

Nationality: Irish

Height: 5ft 10ins - Making Richard the tallest flat jockey in the UK.

Regular jockey for: Trainer Richard Hannon or owner Prince Khalid Abdullah

Richard’s father, Dessie Hughes, is a successful Jump horse trainer in Ireland.

In 2004, he trained Hardy Eustace to win the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Richard's father in-law is leading Flat horse trainer Richard Hannon.

He decided to become a professional Flat jockey due to his father’s persuasion and the influence of Lester Piggott.

 His career began in Ireland, but due to limited opportunities he moved to England in the mid 1990’s. Here he secured a position with trainer Richard Hannon.

Although nowadays a successful flat jockey, Richard had also won 30 jump races, before becoming the retained jockey for Prince Khalid Abdullah.

Amongst his jumping wins is the 1997 Irish Champion Hurdle, which he won on Cockney Lad.

Two of the best horses Richard has ever ridden are 2003 Darley July Cup winner, Oasis Dream, and the much-loved long-standing campaigner, Persian Punch. These two horses are also his particular favourites.

Within racing circles, Richard holds great respect for jockey Pat Eddery, as he is very hard working.

Richard was 2nd in the Jockeys Championship in 2008 and 2009, when he rode 139 wins with a £1 level stakes return of £36.47.

Richard has not been out of the top 6 in the Jockeys Championship since 2004.

Richard has had a couple of serious injuries since he began raceriding. He broke his leg following a heavy fall at Newbury early in his career, and more recently punctured a lung when falling at Leicester.

Seb Sanders

Born: September 25, 1971

Nationality: British

Height: 5ft 7ins

Regular Jockey for: Sir Mark Prescott, as well as Ralph Beckett

Seb’s family were not involved with horseracing. His interest was sparked by local trainer Brian McMahon, for whom his father worked as a plumber.

In 1987, Seb soon found himself riding out for his father’s client and the following year became his full-time apprentice.

Seb’s first career win was at Pontefract in June 1990 with a horse called Band On The Run.

In 1994, Seb began working for Reg Akehurst, for whom he started to ride plenty of winners.

In 1995 he won the Wokingham at Royal Ascot with Astrac and went on to ride a total of 65 winners, thus becoming the Champion Apprentice Jockey of the year.

With the winners he was accumulating and the strength he showed in the saddle, Seb started to make a name for himself. He was spotted by top trainer Sir Mark Prescott and invited to join his team as second jockey to George Duffield, a stalwart of the yard for many years.

In 2004, Seb took over from the retiring George Duffield to become Sir Mark Prescott’s first jockey, therefore having the pick of the yard’s best horses.

However, it is the James Toller-trained Bachelor Duke who is the best horse Seb has ever ridden, having partnered him to victory in the 2004 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Seb gave the horse an outstanding ride to land his first Classic victory and mark the biggest win of his career so far.

Seb has long respected former Champion Jockeys Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery. He admires their awesome riding talents and says that they are both extremely nice characters.

 Although Flat jockeys usually avoid the quantity of injuries suffered by their colleagues in Jump racing, Seb has incurred a few minor injuries during his time as a jockey. He once smashed his knee on the side of a starting stall when the horse he was riding jolted as the stalls opened.

Seb was tied first Champion Jockey in 2007, riding 190 winners, level with Jamie Spencer In 2008 Seb won his second Classic in the form of the Oaks, partnering Ralph Beckett trained Look Now.

Jimmy Fortune

Born: June 14, 1972

Nationality: Irish

Regulary rides for: John Gosden, Brian Meehan.

Jimmy started his apprenticeship with Jim Bolger in Ireland before moving to England and joining Mike O'Neill, followed by Luca Cumani.

His first winner came at Thirsk on Hitchinstown in 1988 and his first major success soon followed when he won the Ayr Gold Cup in 1990 aboard the 50-1 shot Joveworth.

In 1990 he won the Apprentices' championship with 47 winners. In 1998 he was offered the illustrious job of the retained jockey to the late Robert Sangster which was instantly successful when he won the Racing Post Trophy on Commander Collins in the same year.

Jimmy’s best horses in recent times are the Cheveley Park Stud owned, Nannina, who he won the Corontaion Cup on in 2006, and the great New Approach who won the Derby and Champion Stakes in 2009.

Jimmy had Classic success in the 2008 St. Leger on Lucarno, as well as that 2009 Derby

In 2008 Jimmy rode winners Ravens Pass and Rainbow View in a fantastic double at Royal Ascot.

In 2009 Jimmy won 4 Group 1 races and earned £2,372,917 in prize money, making him the third highest jockey in terms of winnings.

Kieren Fallon

Born: February 22, 1965

Nationality: Irish

Regular Jockey for: Various

Height: 5ft 3ins

Kieren is married to ex-jockey, Julie Bowker. He is also one of the most controversial and enigmatic figures in racing.

He decided to follow a race-riding career, having come to the conclusion that he was too small to do anything else!

Picadilly Lord gave Kieren his first win, at Navan racecourse in Ireland, in 1984.

He was the British champion flat jockey in 1997, 1998,1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

In 2004, Kieren achieved two fantastic feats at the Vodafone Derby Meeting at Epsom Downs. He won the two Classic races of the meeting, the Vodafone Oaks and Vodafone Derby, on Ouija Board and North Light respectively. Following what was his third victory in each race, and second successive Derby success following victory with Kris Kin in 2003, Kieren said, ‘It’s unbelievable to have done the double and for a second time’.

He cites Russian Rhythm, winner of the Coronation Stakes and the Sagitta 1,000 Guineas in 2003, as the best horse he has ever ridden.

Dual Classic winner, Ouija Board, is also one of Kieren’s best rides, having landed both the English and Irish Oaks for him in 2004.

The best ride Kieren has ever given a horse was when he rode Golan to victory in the 2002 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, at Ascot.

He has great respect for trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who trains several of H.M The Queen’s horses.

Kieren has incurred several injuries, one of which was when he severed the nerves in his shoulder, having fallen at Ascot in 2000.

In 2009 Kieren Fallon returned from a lenghty ban from racing for drug abuse.

Controversy continued to follow Fallon in 2010 when he was punched by owner David Reynolds after he believed Fallon interfered with his horse in a race at Lingfield.

He is back in 2010 and looking to reclaim his place as the very best in flat racing.