Horse Racing News – 7 May 2025
Kieran Shoemark Axed as Gosden’s No.1
Summary: Kieran Shoemark has been removed as retained rider for John and Thady Gosden after his ride in the 2,000 Guineas. The yard will now go with the best available jockey moving forward.
Shoemark’s position came under pressure last weekend, following his ride on beaten favourite Field Of Gold, who finished second in the 2,000 Guineas after being held up and finishing strongly.
John Gosden publicly defended the ride, but the decision has since been made to move away from having a fixed number one, and adopt an ad hoc jockey booking strategy for the forseeable future.
Thady Gosden confirmed the decision to remove Shoemark on the Nick Luck podcast, saying the team will now “use the best available jockey” depending on the race and owners’ preferences.
Shoemark, who replaced Frankie Dettori as retained rider for the Gosdens in early 2024, is still likely to ride for the stable but without priority status.
Big-name bookings like Colin Keane and Christophe Soumillon are already lined up for key rides in the weeks ahead and it seems doubtful that Shoemark will sit on the same calibre of horse for the yard again.
Punters generally unsurprised at decision.
The appointment of Shoemark as replacement for the aging and declining Dettori was seen as a surprise across the industry.
Serious punters who often have the most incisive and unrelenting views on jockeys, we said to be roundly sceptical at the time. And following several mediocre rides over the past year, Shoemark’s dismissal following his poor effort on Saturday was neither surprising nor unwelcomed in professional punting circles.
Leading professional punter and tipster Paul Gargan had this to say:
“Personally I’ve never been a big fan of Shoemark’s. Although Frankie was many years past his best, and needed to go, I always felt the Gosdens had this appointment wrong from the start.
Despite John Gosden being a phenomenal trainer and clearly the best English trainer of the past 20 years, I’ve often felt he is not the best judge of a jockey. Giving Shoemark the stable job was just another example of that.
Although capable at an everyday level, for me, Shoemark never suggested he could cut it at the top. I feel he’s too prone to mistakes, even in smaller races. And I do wonder if he struggles with the pressure in marquee events.
I’m far less shocked to see him sacked than I was when I heard he was getting the job.”
Suggestions for permanent replacements for Shoemark are varied but, with top-class pilots thin on the ground, no clear and obvious choices stand out at this time.
Tom Marquand has done very well but already has a good job with William Haggas. Rossa Ryan is excelling as a freelance, but has only recently proven himself at the top level – his Arc win on Bluestocking being the obvious highlight. Ryan is a reliable and classy rider who is a good communicator and might suit the Gosden team.
If Ryan is overlooked, James Doyle may be the only other obvious candidate. Proven at the top level and currently lacking a senior job, Doyle has seemed short of opportunities in 2025. His best source of rides in 2024, Roger Varian, now looking elsewhere and relying more on Silvestre De Sousa.
Doyle would seem one of the few options with ticks in all of the boxes, but confidence in him might be tempered by his seeming failure to hold down a quality retainer to this point.
Having said that, he has repeatedly delivered at the top level and is undoubtedly a better jockey than the man he would replace.
Shoemark's Record and Career Path
Before stepping up as retained rider for the Gosdens, Kieran Shoemark built a solid reputation on the southern circuit.
He partnered a decent 43 winners for his employer yard last year, and had ridden 14 winners from 46 mounts (30% strike rate) so far in 2025.
Although doubtless a huge blow to his career, this news will leave Shoemark with more flexibility to to pick up outside rides and hopefully rebuild momentum.
