‘I hope my kids are watching'

Jockey Adam Kirby turns around a “gut-wrenching” decision to win the 242nd running of the Derby

- MARCUS ARMYTAGE

Epsom Racecourse, Surrey

MORE often than not, the Derby is about the winning colt but the 242nd edition, won by Godolphin’s 16-1 shot Adayar, was all about his jockey Adam Kirby.

Kirby, 32, is one of racing’s good guys, never stops working and struggles with his weight to the point he is essentially a Flat jockey in a jump jockey’s body.

Keeping busy is one of the keys to his constant battle with the scales and to that end, he also has a pre-training sideline at Vicarage Farm near Newmarket which is gathering momentum. Indeed, he broke in all three Godolphin colts in this year’s Derby.

But when he was booked for the better-fancied John Leeper, until Wednesday evening it appeared he had his best Derby shot. However, when Frankie Dettori – a go-to big-race jockey for Ed Dunlop in the past – unexpectedly became available, Kirby was jocked off.

That is absolutely the owner/ trainer’s prerogative and I have no problem with it. It happens all the time. Indeed, it very nearly happened last year when Dettori replaced Tom Marquand on the favourite English King only for Marquand to finish second, in front of his former ride, on Khalifa Sat.

So when Dettori, who had won more Derbys than Kirby had ridden in, came available, you could see it coming. But it remains an awful feeling for a jockey even if you are replaced by the best. Kirby describes it as “gut-wrenching”, but being metaphorically “jocked off” is something we can all relate to in real life whether it is in other sport or the workplace. As it turned out, however, it worked in his favour and Dettori was as much wet nurse to the inexperienced John Leeper as jockey.