The turf: Precocious talent

As André Fabre walked off the Derby course following the success of Pour Moi, I watched one of the horse’s connections embrace him and declare, ‘I’ll tell you one thing. He’s a cocky little bastard, isn’t he?’ It wasn’t the horse the hugger had in mind: jockey Mickael Barzalona, despite winning by just a head after coming from further behind to win than any Derby jockey most can remember, had stood bolt upright in the stirrups and waved his whip in exultation a couple of strides before reaching the post.

A jockey who had done that for an old school trainer like Barry Hills might well have had a crack of the whip across his own backside the next morning on the gallops. Never mind whether it was ‘not quite British’ as I heard some say: showmanship of that kind is unprofessional because it could unbalance the horse and bring the risk of injury.