'We're delighted he's on board' - Charlie Fellowes hands Kieran Shoemark Classic lifeline with French Guineas rides

Charlie Fellowes has made a big call as he prepares to saddle Luther and Shes Perfect in the French versions of the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas on Sunday, giving Kieran Shoemark the chance to put his travails behind him just a day after John and Thady Gosden announced they would be moving to a "best available rider" policy.

Shoemark rode Shes Perfect to be a gallant runner-up to red-hot Poule d'Essai des Pouliches favourite Zarigana at Longchamp last month, while he has ridden Luther in three of his five starts.

In anticipation Shoemark would be riding for the Gosdens at Longchamp, Fellowes had booked Rossa Ryan for the ride on Shes Perfect, while Jim Crowley was set to stick with Luther, the pair having been second to Detain at Chelmsford in March.

The massed ranks of the Basher Watts syndicate with Prix de la Grotte runner-up Shes PerfectCredit: Racing Post/Burton

"I'd said to both jockeys these were Kieran’s rides and if he becomes available at any point in the future, he'll go back on," said Fellowes. "Both riders knew that but I don’t think any of us could have thought Kieran would be available for this weekend.

"Both jockeys were very understanding; Rossa has come and sat on Shes Perfect only once and hasn’t ridden her in a race, so I didn’t feel quite as bad jocking him off as I did Jim, who has been incredibly good.

"He’s ridden quite a lot of work on Luther and rode him at Chelmsford. Jim couldn’t have been nicer when I spoke to him on the phone, and I’m incredibly grateful; to them both."

Shoemark lost the number-one job with the Gosden team in the wake of defeat for Field Of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas last Saturday, a blow that he may have felt particularly keenly in the week of the first two French Classics, given his excellent record at Longchamp.

Friendly Soul wins the Prix de l'Opera under Kieran Shoemark at LongchampCredit: Edward Whitaker

Three of Shoemark's four Group 1 wins have come at the track, scoring in the Prix d'Ispahan and Prix du Moulin aboard the Ed Walker-trained Dreamloper, before striking with Friendly Soul for the Gosdens in last season's Prix de l'Opera.

"Kieran and I go back a long way, he knows both horses and I thought in this circumstance it was even more important he rode them," said Fellowes. "We’re delighted Kieran’s on board and hopefully as one door closes, another one opens.

"There will be a lot of trainers in this country really looking forward to having Kieran Shoemark ride their horses, including me, first and foremost."

With 18 left in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Fellowes will be keeping everything crossed that Luther is handed a kind draw, though he believes if the worst happens the son of Frankel will handle a wide trip better than most.

Luther shows a sharp turn of foot to land the Ascendant Stakes at HaydockCredit: GROSSICK RACING

"I think he has the perfect attributes and I just hope we get a half-decent draw to work with," said Fellowes. "He stays further and if we're drawn high – we actually put him in the stalls this morning to sharpen him up – he’s the sort of horse we could give a bit of daylight and not worry about him running keen."

Shes Perfect was having only her third start when going down by a neck to Zarigana, and Fellowes is confident she has progressed for her seasonal comeback.

He said: "She looks fantastic and she’s definitely tightened up for that run. She’s quite a big filly and I'd be very disappointed if there’s not an extra ten per cent from the other day. 

"Both horses are so tough and have an attitude to die for."

Read these next:

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'Retained jockeys are out of fashion - they're for an owner, not a trainer' - a timeline of John Gosden quotes on Kieran Shoemark 

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