Top 5 Young Jockeys Ready to Shine as Flat Season Winds Down We’re into September now and the Flat turf season is entering its final couple of months. There’s still plenty to play for however and the main upcoming late-season target is Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh and Leopardstown. There are some big handicaps coming up soon, including the Irish Cesarewitch, and jockeys with valuable claims will be very popular. Here we profile five up-and-coming young jockeys that have made a splash so far this season and could still have a part to play as the season reaches a conclusion. Nicola Burns Nicola Burns is still claiming 7lb and that could prove to be very valuable for the trainers who back the teenager. She has maintained a healthy 10 per cent strike-rate over the course of the current season and currently has 20 winners from her 200 or so rides. Plenty of people began to notice when she rode a double at Ballinrobe back in June and is already showing some very good instincts in the saddle. Big names such as Ger Lyons are starting to use her services and it’s easy to see why. More winners should be on the agenda before the season ends and she currently sits in 13th in the jockeys’ championship. Sam Coen Another 7lb claimer, Sam Coen has made an excellent start to his career and rode his first winner at Gowran last September. He has gone from strength to strength since and the winners have come in a steady flow since. Riding at a strike-rate of 12 per cent so far this season, he has 19 winners from just 165 rides, which is particularly impressive for an apprentice who rides mainly for the smaller yards. Currently 15th in the championship, he should be winning more races. Wayne Hassett Joseph O’Brien has aided the career of teenager Wayne Hassett and the jockey has ridden plenty of winners for the County Kilkenny-based trainer. He came pretty close in the battle for champion apprentice last term and has 16 winners on the board already. Hassett has ridden winners for the Ballydoyle too and whilst he has less winners than last year so far, his 3lb claim is certainly going to come in handy. Wesley Joyce Wesley Joyce is still claiming 3lb and he’s an experienced apprentice rider with plenty of contacts. He is also in the top 25 in the jockeys’ championship so far and has ridden 16 winners. Perhaps lacking the firepower of some of his contemporaries, he’s clearly a capable rider and should be crossing the 20-mark before the season ends. Jack Cleary Ryan Moore’s injury is a major blow to the Aidan O’Brien team, but there will be plenty of opportunities for his lesser used riders to make a name for themselves. Jack Cleary could be one of the main beneficiaries and you’d imagine he’ll be on board some smart horses over the next couple of months. Cleary usually rides the second or third string runners but has still ridden 11 winners thus far. The Moore injury combined with a suspension for Wayne Lordan puts him in a good spot to ride some nice winners.
