Looking back on the season
So we’re coming to the end of my first full season back in the UK after over 10 years in Hong Kong. Obviously there have been some ups and downs, but on the whole I’m absolutely delighted with how things have gone.
Royal Ascot was the catalyst for me really, winning the Kensington Palace on Rising Star for Marco [Botti] who has been such a great supporter this year.
There’s nothing I can say that people don’t know about Royal Ascot, it’s the pinnacle and the one place in Britain where the rest of the world comes to compete.
To come back and win there with just one ride was amazing. She was a 40/1 shot and I didn’t expect him to win which meant even more. Surprises like that are what makes racing so brilliant.
Royal Ascot joy for @neilcallan78 aboard 40/1 chance Rising Star for @MarcoBotti in the closing Kensington Palace Stakes.
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 15, 2022
He didn't get time for a celebration like this, having to settle for a punch of the air after the line. 😀 pic.twitter.com/eoSzGK9ijm
I then had a nice winner at York’s Ebor meeting which is pretty much the Royal Ascot of the North. Farhan was very good that day and it was another pleasant surprise for me and John Butler.
I’d say the Ebor meeting is probably the next best after Royal Ascot. There’s great prize money up there and they do such a wonderful job with the track. I love riding there.
Prior to that, I absolutely loved riding in the Shergar Cup and winning the Silver Saddle was something I also didn’t expect. It was a great day and to win it for Britain and Ireland was a lovely feeling.
And then to top it all off was winning the Sun Chariot on Fonteyn for Kevin [Ryan]. It was the perfect way to round off a great first season back.
Group Ones are the cream, they’re the ones everyone wants to win and it meant so much more to me that it was for Kevin – on a personal level rather than a professional level.
What a moment for Neil Callan! ⭐️
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 1, 2022
Fonteyn wins the Royal Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @NewmarketRace | @neilcallan78 | @kevinryanracing pic.twitter.com/Q344aIGpTl
As we all know, there are plenty of highs and lows in racing and regarding last week’s incident at Kempton, all I can say is that it was a really stupid mistake which I never thought I would make.
Look, it’s happened but I’m tough enough and thick-skinned enough to move on.
I’ve paid all the costs back to the owner, including my riding fee, and I apologised to all the connections straight after the race. I’ve been punished for it and as far as I’m concerned, it’s forgotten about now.
I really didn’t know what to expect coming back from Hong Kong after all those years. It’s hard to come and waltz back in. I knew I’d have to work hard and I’m just glad it’s come off. Nothing’s for free in this game and I’ll be working even harder next season.
I have to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me this season. My agent Steven Croft has done a great job and has got me into stables that I haven’t ridden for before.
I’ve had some good success for them and some of my old connections like Kevin have supported me also.
Doncaster, Saturday
It’s the final day of the turf season at Doncaster. I actually think it makes sense to crown the champion jockey at Ascot on Champions Day, but surely the trainer should be crowned that day as well?
I also think the season should start with the Lincoln at Doncaster rather than at the Guineas meeting.
The whole start of the season is all a bit weird. You get going at Doncaster and then you’re back on the all-weather again for a month, it doesn’t make sense.
I’ve got two rides and PRECISELY goes in the Listed fillies’ race (1:30) over a mile and a quarter. This will be my first time riding her but she’s had a good season winning three times and finishing second twice.
She also handles softer ground which is a bonus, but this looks wide open with 18 runners declared.
The November Handicap (3:13) is the last big betting race of the season and Israr is the obvious favourite after winning easily over course and distance last time.
The Gosden yard have a very good record in the race and he’s the one we all have to beat, but I do think my ride CEMHAAN has a good each-way chance.
He won well on soft ground at Newmarket in August which showed he can handle some dig, but we’ll have to see how soft it is up there. You want a horse coming into a race like this in good form and he is, so fingers crossed.
Back to Bahrain
I’ll be heading out to Bahrain in a couple of weeks to ride out there again. I really enjoyed it last winter and I managed to ride quite a few winners which was lovely.
I’ll come back home to have Christmas with the family in our new place and I’ll then be back out there after that. I’ll be back in the UK at the end of February preparing for the new season. I’m looking forward to it all.
Less racing and better prize money
I know I’ve banged on a lot about the issues in racing this season and there are too many to mention sadly, but the main ones are very simple; there’s too much racing and prize money needs to be improved. It isn’t rocket science.
If you solve those two issues, it brings the quality up, it brings people into racing and stops people around the world buying all our horses.
FIRST PUBLISHED: 3rd November 2022
