 Fortune began to regularly team up with Gosden in 2005 |
Jockey Jimmy Fortune has lost his job as stable jockey to Derby-winning trainer John Gosden. Fortune, 37, rode several high-profile winners for the Newmarket handler, including Lucarno in the 2007 St Leger. "Mr Gosden phoned me, we had a little chat and it's been decided that I won't be riding for him this year," Fortune told the Guardian newspaper. Former champion apprentice William Buick, 21, is set to take over from Fortune as Gosden's first jockey. Since joining as Gosden's number one rider, Fortune enjoyed plenty of success. But after riding Raven's Pass to victory in the 2008 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, he was replaced by Frankie Dettori at the Breeders' Cup meeting.  | 606: DEBATE |
Dettori also rode Gosden's horses at last year's Breeders' Cup meeting, including Juvenile Turf winner Pounced. "I didn't have a retainer and there has been no falling out, but John felt that since the situation with the jockeys at the Breeders' Cup had arisen, there had been a bit of a wedge driven between us," said Fortune. "Of course I am extremely disappointed. It has been a good job and we have had five or six very successful years together but I feel as I am leaving on a high. "Greater jockeys than me have lost their jobs before - Kieren Fallon and Mick Kinane have both experienced the same sort of thing and both of them didn't look back afterwards. "I'm only 37 years old, I feel good physically and, as they say, as one door closes another opens."  Buick pictured in 2006 when starting out as a young jockey |
Buick and has been based with Andrew Balding at Kingsclere. He is currently in Dubai but his father Walter, a former multiple champion jockey in Norway, said his son would take the top job. "I've always thought a big job was coming his way but I never thought it would be this year," said Buick senior. "It's fantastic, a huge thing for him. When I was riding abroad he was always with me from early on. He knew the racing game before he was 12 years of age. "He's such an ambassador that he made sure Andrew Balding was the first person to know. "He didn't want Andrew to read it in any newspaper article because he owes the Baldings an awful lot. "He's put that right and Andrew was very pleased on his behalf."
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