Loughnane signs Godolphin retainer and can be racing's next crossover star
Godolphin has signed Britain's newly crowned champion jockey Billy Loughnane, 20, to ride in Sheikh Mohammed's royal blue next year. He joins William Buick as one of two retained riders rather than an outright No 1.
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A Godolphin contratou o britânico Billy Loughnane, 20 anos, recém-coroado campeão dos jockeys da Grã-Bretanha, para montar no azul real de Sheikh Mohammed no ano que vem. Ele se junta a William Buick como um dos dois cavaleiros contratados — não um número 1 absoluto —, mas o acordo aponta para um papel maior adiante.
A esperança no esporte é que Loughnane se torne a próxima figura de apelo popular no molde de Frankie Dettori, unindo habilidade excepcional na sela ao carisma que construiu um perfil para além do turfe. As comparações o acompanham desde os tempos de aprendiz; a diferença é a época, já que nenhuma aparição semanal na BBC constrói um nome como antes.
Ainda assim, ele tem o jeito envolvente e o instinto de showman que combinam com uma operação de Dubai pensada como anúncio global. Sua ascensão foi rápida: primeira vitória ainda como aprendiz, primeiro clássico em maio, em Bow Echo, nas 2.000 Guinéus, e primeiro vencedor da Breeders' Cup em Keeneland há cinco dias. Ele monta para a Godolphin desde os tempos de aprendiz, conquistando um primeiro Grupo 1 com Rebel's Romance, em Berlim, em agosto de 2025.
“Quero montar mais vencedores de Grupo 1”, disse Loughnane no mês passado, quando questionado sobre sua principal ambição para 2027 — um objetivo que agora parece ao alcance fácil.
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