No fairytale end for Richard Hughes at Goodwood

Saturday 1 August 2015 21:28, UK

Richard Hughes described himself as "relieved and overwhelmed" as the three-times champion jockey retired from the saddle to embark on a training career without a fairytale last-day winner at Goodwood.

Afforded a guard of honour by his weighing room colleagues before racing, Hughes had six rides on the final afternoon of a meeting that has been so kind to him over the years.

Having ridden his first winner in 1998, the long-time stalwart of the Richard Hannon yard had intended to bow out at the end of the season, but the demands of what will be needed in terms of training led to him bringing forward his decision.

Just denied by Frankie Dettori when riding Barnet Fair in the opener, the Hughes swansong came in the seven-furlong Qatar Stakes on Fox Trotter for Brian Meehan.

Typically given a patient ride at the rear of the field, the top-weight made rapid progress with two furlongs to run but could not quite get to the leaders and to settle for a close fourth, as Enlace took the spoils.

Hughes was led back into the enclosures to a hero's reception.

After a career that spanned 27 years, Hughes, 42, leaves the saddle with 31 Royal Ascot winners, two British Classics, numerous other Group One successes and a reputation as one of the most stylish jockeys of his generation.

Hughes said: "I feel relieved. I didn't have a winner, it wasn't to be, but I am overwhelmed by the whole thing, it is absolutely brilliant.

"Going into the final race I thought 'this is it' and I enjoyed every minute of it. Everything went according to plan, apart from winning. I am ready to retire. I was ready for this for a while and I am delighted to go out on a high.

"It was unbelievable to be led back in front of the crowds. A couple of months ago my kids said to me on McCoy's retirement day 'are you going to have that?' and I said 'no, I won't get anything like that'. It was absolutely brilliant, though.

"I thought at the furlong pole I might get up on him (Fox Trotter), but it wasn't to be. I have had enough winners in my career and one more wouldn't have made any difference. Having a reception like that was great.

"I'd like to thank Goodwood for all the trouble they went to. They have moved houses for me and I am very grateful.

"I love this track and hopefully I'll find a horse good enough to run here.

"A lot of jockeys retire in a hospital bed and I am very lucky. It is just a huge relief and I can go on now. It is onwards and upwards to my next job.

"The other jockeys are like brothers and we have been through highs and lows all together. I was trying to be champion jockey this year, but next year is more important to me."

Image: Richard Hughes and Oasis Dream lead the Australian trained Choisir and Johnny Murtagh home to land The Darley July Cup in 2003 to land Hughes his first Gr
Image: Richard Hughes and Oasis Dream land The Victor Chandler Nunthorpe Stakes to add to their July Cup success.
Image: Richard shows how much every winner means as he celebrates winning a seller at his beloved Windsor in 2000
Image: Richard Hughes beats Dhanyata ridden by Jimmy Fortune to the line during the Sky Bet Chevley Park in 2006
Image: Richard Hughes and Indian Ink win again as they lead the field home to land The Coronation Stakes Race at Ascot Racecourse in 2007
Image: Richard Hughes and Youmzain (R) land The Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes, they would go on to win the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud together
Image: Richard Hughes and Paco Boy land The Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2009
Image: Richard Hughes and Canford Cliffs glide past the Ryan Moore ridden Rip Van Winkle to land The Sussex Stakes in 2010
Image: Canford Cliffs wins The Queen Anne Stakes in 2011. Described as the best horse he's ridden Canford Cliffs was an instrumental figure in Hughsie's career
Image: Richard Hughes (IRE) of The Great Britain and Ireland Team celebrates as he and his mount King's Welcome land The Carvill Shergar Cup
Image: Richard Hughes riding The Fugue (R) win The Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes from Timepiece (L) at Goodwood in 2012
Image: Richard Hughes celebrates winning the 2012 champion jockeys title with son Harvey at Doncaster racecourse
Image: Ian Mongan and Richard Hughes chat before the first race at Windsor racecourse on a Monday evening where Hughes always had such great success
Image: Richard Hughes riding Sky Lantern celebrates winning The Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes, Richard's first classic success
Image: Richard Hughes rides Talent to victory in The Oaks in 2013, the second classic in his career just one month after his first on Sky Lantern
Image: Richard Hughes gets Toronado up to win the Sussex Stakes a shade cosily at Goodwood
Image: Richard Hughes rides Olympic Glory to win The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO at Ascot on Champions Day
Image: Richard Hughes celebrates with Chriselliam after winning the Juvenile Fillies Turf during the 2013 Breeders' Cup, his only Group 1 winner stateside
Image: Richard Hughes gets a champagne shower as he wins the 2013 jockey's championship at Doncaster
Image: Richard Hughes riding Sole Power celebrates as he wins The King's Stand Stakes
Image: Richard Hughes celebrates ridding Sole Power to victoy in the Al Quoz Sprint during the Dubai World Cup
Image: Hughes signs off his career at Goodwood this week before he embarks on his new challenge as a trainer
Image: Richard Hughes smiles as he is given a guard of honour ahead of the first at Goodwood on Saturday
Image: And is then joined by fellow jockeys and family

Hughes' wife, Lizzie, said: "It's sad that it's come to an end, it's the end of an era.

"A jockey's life is a great life, but everything has to come to an end and you can't go on forever.

"He has found it tougher than he thought he would (retiring), now the hard graft really starts, but we're ready to do it."

Richard Hannon jnr said: "You can't say it's sad, he's had the most brilliant career and everyone can see how popular he is.

"I came down to watch the guard of honour the jockeys gave him, it was great and big credit to all the guys in the weighing room, it shows you the sort of camaraderie they have.

"That will be a thing for him on Monday morning not to have that, it is going to be hard for him, harder than he thinks.

"He'll be good at training, don't get me wrong, but it will be hard to miss all that - being the jockey and the competitor, it will be difficult.

"Someone said earlier it's great Hughesie is finishing at somewhere as magical as this, it's lovely weather and a great crowd that appreciates him and everything he has achieved, rather than a cold day in October on a Monday where it would fizzle out.

"This is fantastic."

Sir Michael Stoute revealed he had asked Hughes to ride easy winner Dartmouth for the Queen in the mile-and-a-half handicap but he had already been booked for Brian Meehan's Senrima, so Oliver Peslier stepped in.

Stoute said of Hughes: "He's extremely talented and has a great racing brain."

Hughes was four times crowned top rider at the Glorious meeting, but that honour this year went to Dettori for the fifth time.

The Italian paid tribute to Hughes, saying: "I'm a bit sad, he's a good friend of mine and a great rider. He's a good benchmark for everyone, but he's embarking on his new career and I wish him all the best. I think he'll be quite a hard person to ride for!"

Image: Richard Hughes bids a fond farewell on his final day in the saddle
Image: The stage is set at Goodwood for the final day of the Glorious meeting
Image: Shereen Ball from Haywards Heath pictured before the start of the day's action
Image: The weather is set fair and the going is good to firm
Image: Richard Hughes smiles as he is given a guard of honour before riding Barnet Fair in the opener
Image: The soon to be retired jockey is then joined by colleagues and family for a photo
Image: A queue forms to get the signature of Richard Hughes
Image: Golden Steps wins the Qatar Stewards' Sprint Stakes
Image: Racegoers enjoy a drink on the rails in front of the Goodwood grandstand
Image: Dartmouth hits the front in the Educate A Child Stakes
Image: And stays there to score for Olivier Peslier and Her Majesty The Queen
Image: Legatissimo stretches clear to win the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood
Image: Wayne Lordan celebrates on his return to the winners' enclosure
Image: Magical Memory hits the front in the Qatar Stewards' Cup
Image: Frankie Dettori celebrates having passed the post
Image: And, not one to disappoint, there's a trademark flying dismount
Image: William Buick (left) on his way to winning the Qatar EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes on Folkswood
Image: Hughes pictured with wife Lizzie, daughter Phoebe and son Harvey before his final race
Image: There's no fairytale ending as Hughes (right) finishes fourth on Fox Trotter
Image: There's still a Champagne reception for the popular Irishman in the winner's enclosure