Jockey Kerrin McEvoy’s departure from Godolphin Australia yesterday marked the latest change during an 18-month period of flux at the international stable.
It is unlikely to be the last.
McEvoy was chosen by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, after the Australian jockey won the Dubai Racing Club Cup at Caulfield in September 2002. McEvoy rode Beekeeper to third in the Melbourne Cup that season for Godolphin, which effectively sealed McEvoy's place with the organisation.
The retained jockey went on to win some of Australia's biggest races for Sheikh Mohammed. In all, he rode 29 Group 1 winners for him.
McEvoy also claimed several high-profile wins for the operation in England, including a St Leger title on Rule Of Law in 2004, and last rode on Dubai World Cup night for Godolphin on Australian stars Sepoy and Helmet in 2012.
However, like Frankie Dettori before him, McEvoy came under pressure from within the organisation. Newly appointed trainer John O'Shea began to give rides to James MacDonald, the rising New Zealander.
McEvoy, who turns 34 on Sunday, engaged in talks last week with Henry Plumptre, Godolphin’s racing manager in Australia. McEvoy reportedly said he would like to pursue a career as a freelancer.
Clearly, he did not get talked around, although he will continue to ride for Godolphin, including this weekend.
McEvoy’s departure marks the end of an era for Godolphin, which from its early years had embraced the retainer structure, most notably with Dettori, who was the stable’s jockey for 18 years.
The operation has mushroomed in size, and having retained riders no longer makes sense in Australia, England, France or the United States.
McEvoy alluded to it, saying that the direction of Godolphin Australia “had clearly changed”.
Mickael Barzalona was retained by Mahmood Al Zarooni at both Marmoom Stables in Dubai and Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket.
He later rode for Charlie Appleby, who this season implemented a process of change wherein he selects riders from a pool of William Buick, Adam Kirby and Silvestre de Sousa. Barzalona now rides for Andre Fabre, who trains the French arm of Godolphin.
De Sousa was formerly retained by Saeed bin Suroor, but has been increasingly marginalised by the long-standing Godolphin trainer.
In England this season, De Sousa has ridden almost twice as many horses for Mark Johnston than for Bin Suroor, and more than for the two Godolphin trainers in Newmarket combined. His contract with Godolphin finishes at the end of the British turf season.
Meanwhile, unless something changes between now and tomorrow, the Emirates Racing Authority is set to place De Sousa on the forfeit list alongside Pat Cosgrave for failure to pay the costs of his appeal to a two-day ban during the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
The Brazilian wants to return to Dubai for the winter, but failure to pay will rule him out of a job with Godolphin. Change looks likely to continue.
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