Record-breaking jockey Ryan Moore already has one eye on the key horses he hopes to ride to glory during the British flat season which starts in April.
While the jumps season has taken centre stage in the UK, Moore has been globetrotting to the likes of Japan, Australia and Dubai, enhancing his already sky-high reputation as one of the best jockeys in the world.
While scoring in the southern hemisphere remains a thrill for the Newmarket-based jockey, the big meetings back home, headlined by Royal Ascot in June, remain the highlights.
“I am off to Dubai this week,” Moore toldascot.co.ukat the launch of theRoyal Ascot 2017 campaign.
“We have the trials this week and then the World Cup at the end of the month. We will have to see how the races shape up (regarding options) and which horses make it.
“Then the week after that is Doncaster, around April 4. Of course here is home and the big days here are the most important.
“Your Royal Ascot’s, Epsom’s, York’s and Newmarket’s are the biggest days so we really look forward to them.
“Royal Ascot is probably the most important week of the year.”
Royal Ascot in 2016 was yet another week where Moore clinched the leading jockey title, with Gold Cup success on Order of St George a particular highlight.
The 33-year-old will no doubt be the man to beat again in 2017, and already has three horses he is keen to ride at Ascot.
“We don’t know what is going to be there just yet,” Moore admitted.
“Churchill is a very exciting colt which I think a lot of, where he goes I don’t know yet.
“Caravaggio won the Coventry Stakes last year, and Churchill won the Chesham Stakes so it would be nice to get those two back there.
“Maybe we can find a race for Minding too, she won a race at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, so they would be three that spring to mind.”
Another exciting factor of Royal Ascot 2017 could see a number of Frankel foals reaching their peaks after a successful first season as a stallion.
Moore is interested to see if the three-year-olds improve the way in which their father did – making him one the best racehorses of all time.
“Obviously he had a very good start last year,” he said.
“It will be interesting to see how the three-year-olds go now. He has the pedigree, he is by Galileo, a good Juddmonte family and he got better at three so maybe his will.”
