 | Date of birth: 11 Jan 1973 Place of birth: Ireland English Classic wins: 0 2002 wins: 126 2001 wins: 90 2000 wins: 102 |
Richard Hughes has racing in his blood, and had to choose between a Flat or jumps career. He served an apprenticeship with his father Dessie, the trainer and former leading National Hunt jockey.
At 5ft 9ins, Hughes junior is tall for a Flat jockey, and rode a number of winners over the jumps.
But he has managed to keep his weight under control and decided to pursue the summer game.
After arriving in Britain in 1994, he became stable jockey to Richard Hannon, who is now his father-in-law - and he is currently on a retainer for leading owner Khalid Abdullah.
Hughes landed the 1996 Italian Derby on Bahamian Knight, and boasts three victories in the Vodafone Stewards' Cup at Glorious Goodwood.
The Irish jockey broke his leg in a fall at Newmarket in 2001 but reurned to action six months later and went on to finish second in the jockeys' championship in 2002.
It seems likely there will be even greater success to come for the cool and stylish jockey, who won his first British Group One race on Oasis Dream in the 2003 July Cup and added his second on the same horse in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
MMIX
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