The turf | 1 November 2008

Last year’s Flat jockeys’ championship was a classic, an intriguing all-out battle to the last week of the season, with Seb Sanders and Jamie Spencer sharing the title. So it was in 1987 when Pat Eddery and Steve Cauthen slugged each other into total exhaustion as Cauthen won 197–195.

This year the title has long seemed a foregone conclusion. Put a jockey with the talent of Ryan Moore in combination with Sir Michael Stoute’s 200-plus horsepower and the contest seemed over before it had begun, even with Richard Hughes riding out of his skin.

Combine a Kieren Fallon with Sir Michael, let a fired-up Frankie Dettori go after the title with Godolphin’s battalions enjoying a good season and there is little doubt most years about the outcome. Freelances without the backing of a numerically strong yard have only a limited chance. But it still comes as a surprise that some of the top riding talents have never made it to champion.