Martin Dwyer, one of a kind
English jockey Martin Dwyer left a lasting impression on Indian race goers during a fruitful season in India. He struck great partnership with wonder filly In The Spotlight who won the Gr 1 Indian Derby like no other horse had done in the last two decades.
Dwyer comes across as a friendly person, who has a fine grasp of his trade, instinctive rapport with the horses he rides besides being an excellent team man. It is no surprise that trainer Padmanabhan has reposed faith in this talented jockey for well over a decade.
From the time he came to India as a young jockey and rode Running Flame to Indian 1000 Guineas victory in 1998 at Mumbai to the Gr 1 Indian Turf Invitation Cup win on In The Spotlight in March, the association with Padmanabhan has been fruitful. Martin has won six Group I races for the trainer. Martin’s big race temperament and his skills help a horse to bloom to full potential.
Martin is one of the top jockeys in England and has the distinction of winning the Epsom Derby. The Epsom Derby is the mother of all Derbys in the World and it is the dream of every jockey in the World to win this coveted race. Martin rode Sir Percy to victory in the Epsom Derby in 2006. His ride was voted as the outstanding ride of the year.
Come to think of it, Martin very nearly missed the ride because he had a fall the preceding day. ``I hurt my back in a fall but I was not going to miss the ride for anything on earth. I was pretty optimistic about the prospects of Sir Percy in the Derby which was a 6 to 1 shot. Richard Hughes was booked to ride the horse in case I did not pass the fitness test. The doctor put me through a rigorous schedule before declaring me fit to ride. I endured the pain because I was chasing a dream.
``The ride itself was eventful. It was a choppy race and I could not get a good position. I had to live or die along the rails as shifting the horse out would have been suicidal in the crowded field. Thankfully my instinct proved right as I got the opening along the rails and Sir Percy responded brilliantly, courageously took all the gaps and shot through to win by a whisker from Dragon Dancer. It was a dream come true,’’ said Martin in a chat with this writer before he left for England to get ready for the long season which gets underway later this month.
Martin is not afraid to make the entire running in front unlike many jockeys who don’t want to depart from their patented style of riding a waiting race. In fact, he won the Mysore Derby on Field Marshal cleverly dictating the pace in front, taking his rivals by surprise when he quickened midway through the race, gave a breather to the horse before taking off again. His tactic ensured the Derby success for Field Marshal over Southern Bay.
To be creative, one has to lose the fear of being wrong. Martin has won races all over the World. ``Riding all over the world has been an enriching experience and it makes you a better jockey,’’ he said.
Martin understood the calibre of In The Spotlight and was astride all the wins scored by the filly during the winter season which included four classics including the Derby at Kolkata, the Indian Derby and the Indian Turf Invitation Cup. In each of the races, his reaction to the emerging situation (thinking on the feet) was remarkable.
``The trainer should have confidence in the jockey and give him the freedom to decide which is crucial. If you tie down a jockey with too many instructions, it can prove detrimental as there is an element of surprise during a race. For example, in the Invitation Cup nobody expected Southern Bay to go to the front and slow down the pace. Fortunately, trainer Padmanabhan had immense faith in me. And owners like Capt. Appoo and Harish Mehta were very understanding. I couldn’t have asked for more.’’
The jockey room banter and practical jokes are something racing fraternity is not aware of. Martin related one incident when Kieran Fallon had put shoe polish on his goggles which he didn’t notice. ``Just before the start of the race, I put on the goggles and to my horror, I could not see a thing. Even as I was yelling to the starter that I was not ready, the start was given. I had to quickly remove my goggles and ride without it,’’ said Martin. ``Pat Eddery used to be quite a handful for others with his pranks. ``He had a lucky tie and I cut the tie into pieces which had Pat in great deal of anger.’’ Frankie Dettori is another who loves to have fun in the midst of serious business of riding.
How do jockeys take these pranks and does it not lead to fights? ``It can be disconcerting but it is also fun. We are in a profession where danger lurks. An ambulance always follows us alongside. The fun helps to lessen tension. All jockeys are concerned about the safety of the other and if any jockey suffers a fall, there is great moral support and help. Some of the Indian jockeys who look pretty serious are good fun in the jockeys’ room,’’
But in the race itself, expect no quarter to be given, he said signing off.
Dwyer comes across as a friendly person, who has a fine grasp of his trade, instinctive rapport with the horses he rides besides being an excellent team man. It is no surprise that trainer Padmanabhan has reposed faith in this talented jockey for well over a decade.
From the time he came to India as a young jockey and rode Running Flame to Indian 1000 Guineas victory in 1998 at Mumbai to the Gr 1 Indian Turf Invitation Cup win on In The Spotlight in March, the association with Padmanabhan has been fruitful. Martin has won six Group I races for the trainer. Martin’s big race temperament and his skills help a horse to bloom to full potential.
Martin is one of the top jockeys in England and has the distinction of winning the Epsom Derby. The Epsom Derby is the mother of all Derbys in the World and it is the dream of every jockey in the World to win this coveted race. Martin rode Sir Percy to victory in the Epsom Derby in 2006. His ride was voted as the outstanding ride of the year.
Come to think of it, Martin very nearly missed the ride because he had a fall the preceding day. ``I hurt my back in a fall but I was not going to miss the ride for anything on earth. I was pretty optimistic about the prospects of Sir Percy in the Derby which was a 6 to 1 shot. Richard Hughes was booked to ride the horse in case I did not pass the fitness test. The doctor put me through a rigorous schedule before declaring me fit to ride. I endured the pain because I was chasing a dream.
``The ride itself was eventful. It was a choppy race and I could not get a good position. I had to live or die along the rails as shifting the horse out would have been suicidal in the crowded field. Thankfully my instinct proved right as I got the opening along the rails and Sir Percy responded brilliantly, courageously took all the gaps and shot through to win by a whisker from Dragon Dancer. It was a dream come true,’’ said Martin in a chat with this writer before he left for England to get ready for the long season which gets underway later this month.
Martin is not afraid to make the entire running in front unlike many jockeys who don’t want to depart from their patented style of riding a waiting race. In fact, he won the Mysore Derby on Field Marshal cleverly dictating the pace in front, taking his rivals by surprise when he quickened midway through the race, gave a breather to the horse before taking off again. His tactic ensured the Derby success for Field Marshal over Southern Bay.
To be creative, one has to lose the fear of being wrong. Martin has won races all over the World. ``Riding all over the world has been an enriching experience and it makes you a better jockey,’’ he said.
Martin understood the calibre of In The Spotlight and was astride all the wins scored by the filly during the winter season which included four classics including the Derby at Kolkata, the Indian Derby and the Indian Turf Invitation Cup. In each of the races, his reaction to the emerging situation (thinking on the feet) was remarkable.
``The trainer should have confidence in the jockey and give him the freedom to decide which is crucial. If you tie down a jockey with too many instructions, it can prove detrimental as there is an element of surprise during a race. For example, in the Invitation Cup nobody expected Southern Bay to go to the front and slow down the pace. Fortunately, trainer Padmanabhan had immense faith in me. And owners like Capt. Appoo and Harish Mehta were very understanding. I couldn’t have asked for more.’’
The jockey room banter and practical jokes are something racing fraternity is not aware of. Martin related one incident when Kieran Fallon had put shoe polish on his goggles which he didn’t notice. ``Just before the start of the race, I put on the goggles and to my horror, I could not see a thing. Even as I was yelling to the starter that I was not ready, the start was given. I had to quickly remove my goggles and ride without it,’’ said Martin. ``Pat Eddery used to be quite a handful for others with his pranks. ``He had a lucky tie and I cut the tie into pieces which had Pat in great deal of anger.’’ Frankie Dettori is another who loves to have fun in the midst of serious business of riding.
How do jockeys take these pranks and does it not lead to fights? ``It can be disconcerting but it is also fun. We are in a profession where danger lurks. An ambulance always follows us alongside. The fun helps to lessen tension. All jockeys are concerned about the safety of the other and if any jockey suffers a fall, there is great moral support and help. Some of the Indian jockeys who look pretty serious are good fun in the jockeys’ room,’’
But in the race itself, expect no quarter to be given, he said signing off.
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