When Ben Curtis decided to spend the winter in America in October, he couldn’t have imagined how good the future would turn out. And he certainly didn’t think he would be racing in the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby.
Things were going so well for the former all-weather champion jockey that he announced in March that he would be staying in the US and his continued good form saw him selected to face live outsider Honor Marie in the Run for the Roses to ride for Whit Beckman. .
Much emphasis was placed on Frankie Dettori’s search for a mount at the spectacular Churchill Downs, and although he ultimately chose Society Man, the betting suggests Curtis has the better chance.
“It runs fine. Once we get through the Derby and get back to Delaware, we can get back to some normality and get back to racing four or five days a week and hopefully get winners again,” said Curtis, who was champion after completing an apprenticeship in Ireland in 2010 .
“Some jockeys have different agents for different tracks, but I’m lucky that I’ve been with Ron Faucheux since I arrived. “He was head coach at Fair Grounds for four years and he did it in about a year and a half.” When he was at the top of the game, he just wanted to enjoy life a little more.
“He’ll come to Delaware with me and we’ll do the Mid-Atlantic circuit, and then there’s a meet in the middle at Colonial, which is mostly good money turf, so we’ll base ourselves there. “Then we’ll head back to Delaware and also go to Monmouth.
“Ron worked for Todd Pletcher for years before coaching himself, and grew up alongside the younger coaches coming through now, like Whit, who is coaching Honor Marie, like Rob Falcone, who is making a name for himself in New York. And with the contacts he got. “He was a big step forward for me from training onwards.”
In addition to Dettori, there are two other familiar faces riding in the derby that Curtis is familiar with: Antonio Fresu in Stronghold and Adam Beschizza in Epic Ride.
“When we were apprentices, Adam and I went to Italy to take part in a jockey competition together. Frankie spent a lot of time with Adam in the UK and I spent a lot of time with Antonio in Dubai, so there’s a lot.” “I know a lot of the US jockeys from the time they came to Ascot or the time when “I came here many moons ago,” Curtis said.
From Ehren Marie, Curtis feels like he’s climaxing at just the right time.
He said: “He is a horse that is going the right way. It was a big step forward in the Louisiana Derby to finish second, but we all feel like he’s very comfortable in Churchill, he seems to be coming alive.”
“He looks amazing, his skin is absolutely glowing. On a normal morning he’s not like the others, he’s dragging you around, he’s very relaxed and taking it all in, watching the press – he just seems to enjoy it.”
“He is also one of the later foals as he doesn’t turn three until May 4th, ironically the day of the Derby. So we feel like he’s just peaked and is on a good path.”
“Obviously it’s very competitive but we couldn’t be happier. His pedigree screams endurance and he has winning form at the Jockey Club, so there are all the right ticks to hope for a big run.”
It is well known that dirt racing is almost a different sport than racing on grass. But Curtis seems to have adapted very well.
Curtis quickly adapted to driving on unpaved roads in the United States
“It’s very different riding on sand and turf, it’s a different style of racing, but he’s a very easy horse to ride. He’s not a strong puller, he likes to find his own rhythm and the key to him is not getting involved.” “I teased him too much and just let him warm up to a race,” Curtis said.
“There are 20 runners, and yes, it’s the Kentucky Derby, but a lot of horses run a furlong or two longer than ever before, and based on his pedigree you can expect him to stay, so he should have more time for that.” find his way into the race.
“If you look at the draw it should be a strongly run affair which should suit us. Dirt races aren’t won by horses that get faster, they tend to be the horses that can go the fastest for the longest time, they tend to be won by horses that run faster.”
“I think a lot of people here think that if Fierceness gets ahead and gets his way, then the race is over. He’s a bit of an enigma, though. He runs a race and looks unbeatable, and then he can prevail.” A below-average performance. I saw Sierra Leone galloping one morning and he looks like a handsome, tall, imposing guy, but I’m not sure stand two will suit him.
“To be honest, I hope that the way my horse trains and looks and his easy-going nature and the way he does things effortlessly does him justice on the day.”
Despite being a champion during his time in the UK, the big things eluded him and now Curtis is simply enjoying what the future could bring.
“This game is all about being in the right place at the right time, unless you have a name that can throw people off their horses. Most of the time I haven’t been in this position, this is the case now.” “Turn around, I’m absolutely thrilled and can’t wait for the big day,” he said.
“There are hundreds of people on the track in the morning, the press is everywhere and the preparation is fantastic. They estimate there will be 160,000 that day, so I think it will be as close to a Roman Colosseum as possible. “I’m really looking forward to it.