Red-hot Marco Ghiani hoping to make a mark at Cambridgeshire meeting
Marco Ghiani has started to make waves among the apprentice ranks in recent months, and the young Italian rider has an exciting few days in store at Newmarket's Cambridgeshire meeting, capped with a ride in the big handicap.
Ghiani, 20, is closing in on reducing his claim to 5lb after a spectacular September which has yielded nine winners, moving him to 19 for the season and his exploits have led to some appealing opportunities.
Last year's bet365 Cambridgeshire runner-up Mordin will be Ghiani's partner in the prestigious race, while the jockey also has Zzoro for Amanda Perrett in the Silver Cambridgeshire and Restless Rose for boss Stuart Williams in a valuable fillies' handicap on the opening day of the meeting on Thursday.
"I'm quite excited about the weekend," Ghiani said. "It's a really good feeling to have big rides for big trainers and owners at such a nice course."
Assessing his chances of making a splash at the meeting, Ghiani added: "I won on Zzoro last time and think he has a little chance. The rain we've had should help Mordin and give me a bit more of a chance in the Cambridgeshire."
Ghiani certainly possesses some of the tools needed to succeed as a jockey, scoring 100 per cent in the British Racing School's fitness test, and he was also given a grounding by one of the sport's great pioneers.
"I first had my licence with Luca Cumani and had a few rides for him then moved to Stuart Williams when Luca retired," Ghiani said. "Luca was very nice to me, he explained things properly and taught me a lot."
That teaching is ongoing, with Cumani still in contact offering advice, and Ghiani has thrived since joining Williams with 11 winners from 62 rides.
"I had my first winner on my first ride for Mr Williams," Ghiani added. "We started things slowly and then I've got on different horses for different owners and have started having more chances for winners."
Williams is pleased with Ghiani's progress and said: "He's a very nice young man and very dedicated. He works very hard and is listening to me, his jockey coach and Luca gives him insights as well. He's making progress for sure.
"He's very likeable which always helps and he's worked hard to get where he is. We sit down and go through all the races and do our homework and it's paying dividends with the results he's getting and the opportunities he's being given."
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Published on 25 September 2019inNews
Last updated 13:21, 25 September 2019
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