KIERAN SHOEMARK looks set to lose the £500,000 ride on Inspiral – with owners Cheveley Park Stud ‘reviewing options’ ahead of Sunday’s Prix Jacques Le Marois.
John Gosden’s wondermare has won the Deauville showstopper for the past two years.
But she has failed to shine in two rides under Shoemark this year, finishing fourth in the Lockinge before being slowly away and coming sixth in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
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Rab Havlin steered Inspiral’s stablemate and fellow Cheveley Park horse Audience to a shock 22-1 Lockinge success.
And he was in the saddle again when he flew home for Group 2 success in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last week.
Havlin rode Inspiral to debut victory at Newmarket in July 2021 but Frankie Dettori took over after that.
The pair enjoyed an incredible partnership, winning close to £3million and bagging six Group 1s together.
However it looks like Shoemark might not get the chance to land his first on her, with Cheveley Park Stud Managing Director Chris Richardson saying jockey plans are very much up in the air ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster.
Asked whether Shoemark would ride Inspiral, Richardson told the Nick Luck podcast: “That is still up for discussion.
“We’re reviewing options as to who might already be in Deauville. That hasn’t been finalised yet.
“Everything’s being considered.”
That could hardly be taken as a ringing endorsement for Shoemark, who’s suffered a tough first season as the Gosdens’ No1.
He arguably kicked for home too soon on Emily Upjohn in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at Curragh in June before flopping on the same horse at Goodwood after being sent off 7-4 fav.
Free Wind was 11-4 fav for the Group 2 Lillie Langtry at the same meeting but weakened to finish last of eight.
There have been bright spots with the Group 3 wins of Friendly Soul and Lead Artist but the Gosdens are all about the top prizes.
John has stood by his man, saying he just hasn’t had ‘the rub of the green’.
But big owners might be looking to switch jockeys in future, should Cheveley Park go elsewhere for one of the big mile contests of the season.
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