Frankel's rider Tom Queally ready to test himself as a jump jockey
Tom Queally, the man who partnered Frankel during an unblemished career on the Flat, is prepared to try his hand over fences in a quest to ride more winners.
Queally, who rode Frankel to all 14 of his wins, has taken out a jumps licence and hopes to build on a second-place finish at Market Rasen on Thursday, when riding The Getaway Star in a Listed bumper for mares that was won in impressive fashion by Panic Attack.
Queally rode The Getaway Star for his brother Declan – who trains in County Waterford – and the pair joined forces to win a 2m5f maiden hurdle at Tramore on New Year's Day with Owenacurra Lass.
"Dec has got a few decent bumper horses and I've no problem riding in hurdles or chases if needs be," said Queally, who has won the hurdle race for Flat jockeys at Lingfield twice.
"A lot of trainers I ride for in England are dual-purpose and I have a lot of National Hunt connections. I sometimes school for Nigel Twiston-Davies, ride regularly for Alan King and had a big winner for Philip Hobbs [Big Easy in the 2014 Cesarewitch]."
Queally rode a century of winners in Britain for four years in a row between 2008 and 2011, but that tally was down to just 15 last year.
The 35-year-old is keen to test himself over jumps this season while, at the same time, maintaining his Flat commitments on the all-weather.
"It's another string to my bow and it's within my comfort zone," he said. "You get a little bit heavier in the winter and I'm in a position to ride.
"I don't have a big job or anyone tapping me on my shoulder saying 'what are you playing at?' It's something I've always wanted to do and this is the opportunity to do it."
Read more like this:
Tom Queally enjoys first Irish jumps winner at Tramore
Look back on Frankel's astonishing 2,000 Guineas triumph
Frankel debut memories: 'I said he might be special – he was incredible'
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Published on 16 January 2020inNews
Last updated 20:36, 16 January 2020
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