Paul Hanagan, the champion jockey in 2010 and 2011, said on Friday it had been “a privilege” to ride as the retained jockey for Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum following the announcement that his five-year association with the owner has come to an end.
Hanagan has ridden seven Group One winners for Sheikh Hamdan since replacing Richard Hills in the famous blue-and-white silks in 2012. Taghrooda gave him his first British Classic success in the Oaks in 2014 and took the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot the following month. He also completed a treble at Group One level aboard Muhaarar in 2015, with wins including the July Cup at Newmarket and the Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot in October.
However, he has struggled for winners for Sheikh Hamdan this year, with 51 wins for the owner from 299 rides, and drew a blank from his final two rides for him at Wolverhampton on Friday.
“I would like to thank Sheikh Hamdan for giving me the opportunity to ride some very special horses, both in Europe and Dubai over the past five years,” Hanagan said. “Sheikh Hamdan is a true gentleman, it’s has been a privilege to ride for him and I would like to wish him and the team at Shadwell [Stud] every success in the future.
“I am disappointed that our partnership has come to an end, but I have to put these things into perspective, particularly at this time when my close friend Freddy Tylicki has suffered life-changing injuries [in a fall at Kempton last week]. I am sure that I speak for everyone when I say that we are all praying for him.
“Thankfully, I am still fit and healthy and am enjoying my riding as much as ever. It is too early to say what my plans are for the future, but I will continue to work as hard as ever and am looking forward to meeting the new challenges that lie ahead.”
Speculation in Newmarket has linked James Doyle, until recently the main rider for Godolphin’s trainer Saeed bin-Suroor, as successor but Angus Gold, Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager, said on Friday that there will be no immediate move to appoint a replacement for Hanagan.
“To be honest, we haven’t had a chance to discuss it properly yet,” Gold said. “I’m sure whenever I get to see Sheikh Hamdan, then it will be discussed.
