CALLUM SHEPHERD believes he Qud be on to something special in France on Sunday.
The 27-year-old jockey has kept the ride on unbeaten Quddwah after steering him to victory in the Summer Mile at Ascot last month.
Shepherd lost the ride on Ambiente Friendly before the Derby — but trainers Simon and Ed Crisford will stick by their man in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.
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Will Buick had been mooted for the gig but Shepherd will be on board in the Group 1.
Delighted Shepherd – who won a £100,000 Ascot treble with a hole in his head just last month – said: “I rode him in work on Monday and he impressed me again — like on the track, he passes his work horse and then says ‘I’ve done enough’.
“He’s done nothing wrong so far and I really like the way he went about his business at Ascot.
“He’s very relaxed but gets down to business when asked.
“The sky really is the limit for him. He’s still progressing and he’s earned his right to be in a Group 1 field now.
“I’ve sat on some top milers like Phoenix Of Spain — but Quddwah would be the best I’ve sat on so far.”
Shepherd’s season could easily have gone up in flames after he was famously jocked off Ambiente Friendly in favour of Rab Havlin.
The James Fanshawe-trained middle distance star travelled like a dream into the closing stages of the world’s most prestigious Flat race.
But he failed to find more up against two-and-three-quarter length winner City Of Troy.
Now 6-1 for the Great Voltigeur and 8-1 for the Juddmonte – both at York later this month – Ambiente Friendly then finished third in the Irish Derby, again under Havlin.
The Crisfords’ trust in Shepherd came as it was revealed Cheveley Park Stud were considering a new jockey for Inspiral.
The dual Jacques Le Marois winner has been ridden both times by Kieran Shoemark this season.
She looked in need of the run in the Lockinge – which Havlin won on 22-1 Audience – but couldn’t get near Auguste Rodin in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
Cheveley Park Stud Managing Director Chris Richardson said: “We’re reviewing options as to who might already be in Deauville. That hasn’t been finalised yet.”
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