Richard Hughes prefers Census out of the three options for Saturdays St Leger at Doncaster
Keeping and honouring relationships has now even extended to the horse racing industry as the famous jockey, Richard Hughes, confesses that the reason for choosing to ride Census on Saturday at St Leger was out of loyalty and sincerity to not only his boss,
but father-in-law too, Richard Hannon.
Blood here being ever thicker than water, Richard Hughes decided for Census against the hot favourite option of Sea Moon, trained by Sir Michael Stoute.
Richard Hughes has been reported to have said in an interview that devotion to his trainer stood as the top priority as opposed to jumping for a lucrative opportunity.
He realises the importance and impact of getting a chance at St Leger for Richard Hannon who gives Hughes at least 120 winners every year.
Being his first jockey and being Hannon’s first chance at the Leger, leaves no provision for Richard Hughes to even consider any other ride.
The 34-year-old Hughes was onboard census when he won the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newsbury just last month, with an endearing performance, beating the very capable Black Panther, who is now their St Leger rival.
At the Geoffrey, the pair was a good few lengths ahead of rest of the participants.
Eventually the decision did not really turn out to be a very grave dilemma as Richard Hughes had already grown fond of the three-year-old Census and both seem to be at ease with each other by establishing a cooperation cord for the race tracks.
Richard Hughes also admits that if he loses the race against Census onboard Sea Moon then it would be truly heart breaking and soul wrenching for him.
Such an experience would also definitely have an adverse affect on his relationship with Richard Hannon.
"I think if I jumped ship (to Sea Moon) now I would be shot”, said Hughes.
Rumours had it that Richard Hughes would make a go for Sea Moon as he recently rode the colt to victory In the Great Voltigeur by a significant margin of eight lengths in the Ebor Festival's Group 2 race at York.
Since then ‘the ship’ has been very popular and a highly desirable ride for many jockeys.
Sea Moon’s regular jockey, Ryan Moore, has been unable to be onboard for the Great Voltigeur due to an injury and now again his absence will be noted at the Leger as it will still take him a while to recover.
Thus, the ride is available for the rest and presents a chance to take away a classic win.
Not only is Richard Hannon famous for training top of the line juveniles but lately he has also been winning and adding to his credits. This victory can actually be the icing on the cake for both, Richard Hughes and Richard Hannon.
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