Who is Kieran Shoemark? Gosden’s new No1 jockey couldn’t be more different to Frankie Dettori
FOR some weeks, maybe even months, the clues have been there – this has looked a Shoe in.
In Kieran Shoemark, John and Thady Gosden have seemingly opted for a jockey who couldn’t be more different to Frankie Dettori.
Arguably the most famous jockey ever – arguably the longest farewell tour of any sportsman ever, the iconic Italian will leave some big boots to fill.
He will also leave a glaring hole in the heart of the sport.
Dettori was too exhaused to cry after his final Royal Ascot.
But even then, he simply could not stop the showman coming out once more as he swung round a giant bottle of Champagne after the end of Saturday’s action.
The flying dismounts, the poise and balance in the saddle, the punters desperate for a glimpse of The Man.
But of course with all that came the sideshow too.
It rocked racing when John and Frankie split last summer.
It was labelled a ‘sabbatical’ and in truth they were reconciled just a few weeks later.
But the cracks in that special relationship were beginning to show then and, now in Shoemark, Gosden has gone for a totally different type of character.
There is no denying 27-year-old Shoemark’s humble nature.
Similar to Ryan Moore, the microphone has to go very close to his mouth to capture his softly-spoken interviews.
With Frankie you could stand 50 yards away and hear every word.
But as John prepares to leave his legacy to son Thady, perhaps he feels this is just what is needed.
John and Frankie were – still are – absoulte titans of the sport, but make no mistake, as we saw with the ‘sabbatical’, John calls the shots.
Thady, who couldn’t be learning from a better trainer or father figure, will need time to assert himself as an individual in the ranks.
God knows he has got the best possible start.
But in Kieran he will have someone calm, quiet and – perhaps owing to own personal battle overcoming substance abuse issues – someone wise beyond their years.
This next chapter of racing, with the world watching, promises to be an intriguing one.
Let’s hope they’ve made the right call.
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