Ballydoyle apprentices.

[Posts: 3957Joined: 03 Feb 2006, 11:39Location: Sacramento,CA.]

As readers know I am fascinated by the rising to the top of Joseph.All the work it took to make him the Irish champion was duly rewarded since he seems a splendid jockey.Aidan has had plenty of talented lads riding as apprentices in his yard including Tom Queally.As far as I can recall,and correct me if I am wrong, he has never invested in their ambition to be champions.Think how many wondereful jockeys we could have in Ireland and England if Aidan worked like Jim Bolger to turn out top class jockeys.I remember how much John Oxx contributed to the success of Cathy Gannon.

[Posts: 1055Joined: 05 Jun 2010, 14:11]

I think that the investment in him becoming champion may be something to do with JOB being his own son.
We shall see in time, whether all this rebounds on Aidan and "the boys".
Although times are about to change for Godolphin re jockeys, and Juddmonte have Queally et al., its hardly the days of Pigott, Eddery et al.
If JOB turns out to be top class they will be vindicated, in my view the jury is out.
Blood is thicker etc. look at Twiston Davies and the position he left Brennan in.

[Posts: 3957Joined: 03 Feb 2006, 11:39Location: Sacramento,CA.]

What can I say? I don't believe that Jim or John have sons so there could be something in that.What do they say about life? Fear and greed.

[Posts: 2032Joined: 06 Jun 2011, 14:34Location: Bury St Edmunds]

The training of jockeys is just as much an art as the training of horses. Reg Hollinshead was rightly regarded as a master in the training of jockeys. Whatever the latent talent a jockey has, the potential will not be fulfilled without the proper instruction.

[Posts: 3957Joined: 03 Feb 2006, 11:39Location: Sacramento,CA.]

Ballydoyle have proven they can do it but can they do it for non relatives? Is Aidan willing to give his apprentices the opportunities he gives his son? Surely kids would learn as much in his yard as in Bolger's.Johm Oxx did it with Cathy Gannon who is not from racing stock at all.I believe that Kieren Fallon did it on his own.But he is a special case I admit.I guess the question is If you had a kid who wanted to be a jockey would you send him/her to Ballydoyle or to John Oxx,given the choice?

[Posts: 372Joined: 26 Feb 2011, 00:03Location: Stroud]

AOB doesn't need to justify his actions, he can do what ever he wants. I think most fathers in his position would do exactly the same. Not every jockey will be a trainers son, that's life.

[Posts: 3957Joined: 03 Feb 2006, 11:39Location: Sacramento,CA.]

Of course not but I was thinking with Joseph's help in the yard surely Ballydoyle could "share the wealth" as they say.If a young lad with talent got help it could be the start of another brilliant career.Where would Ryan Moore,Richard Hughes, Joseph O'Brien,the Hill brothers be without the luck of the gene pool?

[Posts: 372Joined: 26 Feb 2011, 00:03Location: Stroud]

Well then yes I totally agree, it is difficult, you can say the same for apprentice trainers. Yes they are in a position where they should remember that they can help bring other talent through too. It's a moral responsibility.

[Posts: 239Joined: 22 Sep 2010, 22:25Location: Dublin]

Joseph hardly appeared from nowhere and he would have been riding out and giving feedback about horses long before he raced. If he had been no good I don't believe he would have been given the chance.

Ballydoyle do not race many low grade horses so an apprentice will not get many chances as they would at a yard like jim Bolger's and they would be below Seamus and Colm in the pecking order, therefore, at present it would not be attractive to go there.

Also if Joseph was no good, he wouldn't get rides from other trainer's

[Posts: 3957Joined: 03 Feb 2006, 11:39Location: Sacramento,CA.]

Let's not change the subject.OK?

[Posts: 1825Joined: 03 Jan 2004, 19:43Location: north west]

How many top flight jockeys did Sir Noel Murless train? Or come to that, Henry Cecil, Michael Stoute, Vincent O'Brien?
Why should A. O'Brien need to have any expectations placed upon him to do so?

[Posts: 239Joined: 22 Sep 2010, 22:25Location: Dublin]

Last apprentice before Joseph was Sean Levey, who is now doing well in the UK. Perhaps Ballydoyle do have current apprentices there, who haven't been given their chance yet - it's debatable how many horses have ran this year where a new apprentice may have ridden. It would be not be a surprise to see the next Ballydoyle apprentice at the end of season Dundalk meetings.