Sussex jockey Moore picks his best horses - and Estimate and Grey Gatsby are among them

As horse racing prepares for a return in June, albeit behind closed doors, one of the country's top flat jockeys, Sussex-based Ryan Moore, has picked out the five best horses he has ridden.
Ryan Moore and The Queen after Estimate's win in the 2013 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot / Picture: GettyRyan Moore and The Queen after Estimate's win in the 2013 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot / Picture: Getty
Ryan Moore and The Queen after Estimate's win in the 2013 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot / Picture: Getty

In a Betfair exclusive: Moore ran the rule over the many great horses and big winner he has ridden in his career and came up with this top five. And it's quite a top five... including two who had top-level success after showing their talents at Goodwood.

1 Moore rode Notnowcato to glory in the Coral Eclipse in 2007

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The Coral Eclipse in 2007 was an amazing race. I was a big admirer of George Washington, but I also believed we had a very good horse in Notnowcato. He had taken on a derby winner as well which was very impressive.

We knew he was very straightforward and honest; we wanted to set our own rhythm and pace to dictate things. I’d ridden at Sandown the day before and after walking the track in the morning I knew where I wanted to be on the day.

Everything worked out so smoothly, I knew he would put his head down and go. He was a lovely horse that always tried so hard, it was a wonderful day for everyone involved.

2 Moore romped home with Snow Fairy at the Epsom Oaks in 2010

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I’d sat on Snow Fairy at home, and she was always rock solid in her work. We didn’t expect her to be the horse she’d became at that stage, but she was exceptionally talented. It was a big field and we were a little bit worried about running her a mile and a half as she’d already run a mile and a quarter at Goodwood.

We were patient with her, the gaps all came at the right time and she had the speed to take them. She didn’t run very fast, but the reality was that she ran a lot better than all the other horses in the race.

3 ‘No better race than the Epsom Derby!’ - Moore wins the 2010 Epsom Derby with Workforce

Workforce had a serious amount of talent, winning his maiden at Goodwood on his debut. He was quite a big and awkward customer, I remember being really happy with him afterwards, although he was a difficult horse, he had a really good mind and wouldn’t get too upset.

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I remember saying, “all I’ve got to do is get him downhill and he’ll win.” He was very good on the day, maybe it wasn’t the strongest derby, but he was super-impressive.” The Derby is the race that you really want to win, and there’s no better race in my eyes anyway, it was a special day.

4 Royalty in attendance… Moore races home in the 2013 Royal Ascot Gold Cup with Estimate

Estimate was a very straightforward filly; she’d won the vase as a three-year-old. She had come back as a four-year-old and had won at Ascot. We went back to Ascot pretty confident with her.

She stayed well, was honest and never gave a moment’s doubt. It was a very special day; I was lucky to be a part of that – The Queen loves her racing and enjoys going to see her horses’ race. To take part in such a big race at her meeting made it an extra special day all-round.

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5 Moore fights off favourite Australia to win Irish Champion Stakes with Grey Gatsby

Grey Gatsby had already won the Dante Stakes and Prix du Jockey-Club but was so impressive that day at Leopardstown and scooted round the inside of the course. He got out late and won somehow. I thought he would win the Grand Prix De Paris, but it was bad, bad ground, un-raceable.

There were a few good horses racing in the Champion Stakes (Irish), Al Kazeem, Mukhadram, Trading Leather. I remember going down the back and was surprised that no one wanted to do so. It felt right for my horse on the day and he was a lovely horse to ride. He had serious talent.

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