Ben Curtis excited by Group 1 opportunity after Coolmore call-up for Futurity

Jockey Ben Curtis is relishing the opportunity to be part of Aidan O’Brien’s team of jockeys for the Vertem Futurity Trophy on Saturday seeing his call up as another key marker in what has been an excellent season for the rider.

With O’Brien fielding five of the six runners, and first jockey Ryan Moore taking part in the Cox Plate for Ballydoyle in Australia rather than riding at Doncaster, the trainer has called in Curtis and Andrea Atzeni to ride alongside Donnacha O’Brien, Seamie Heffernan and Padraig Beggy.

Curtis partners outsider Royal County Down, a winner of two of his six races, and the jockey is excited to be taking part in the final Group 1 of the British Flat season.

“To pick up a ride in any Group 1 for anyone is a big deal as you have to be in them to win them, but to pick one up for Aidan and Coolmore is a real feather in the cap,” Curtis said. “I’ve ridden for them a couple of times in the past but it’s still special to be put on one of their horses.”

Curtis has had a fruitful 2019, collecting over £1.3 million in prize-money, a personal best, and riding over 100 winners for the second time.

The rider, who plans to split his winter between riding in Britain and the Middle East, has also claimed big-race successes on the likes of Kynren and Kelly’s Dino this year, and is eager to make the most of his opportunities in major contests.

He said: “The quality [of winners] has been a lot better and that’s been our aim this year, but I’ve also had the number of winners too. Every year I’ve been over here I’ve wanted it to be an improvement on the previous year and it’s been about getting on those better horses and going for some nice prizes.”

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