Frankel's Jockey Queally Debuts at Golden Gate

Once you've ridden Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) it might be hard to get excited about a starter allowance race with a purse of $10,500 on a Thursday afternoon at Golden Gate Fields. But jockey Tom Queally, 33, says that won't be the case when he rides in today's first race at Golden Gate and kicks off a new chapter in his career.

“People say to me do you really want to ride these lower-class horses?” Queally said. “Everyone asks me that because they know I was associated with Frankel, the best horse. That's certainly not the case. It couldn't be further from the truth. The thing is, when you're winning a race it doesn't matter that much to me whether it's a Group 1, the Breeders' Cup or a claimer. When you win, to see a smile on an owner's face, the trainer's face and my own face, for that matter, you can't beat the winning feeling. I can't emphasize how much it doesn't matter if it's the creme de la creme or a mundane race. It's all the same for me. I'm a passionate horseman. I see myself as a horseman first. I just like being around the horse. I'm probably more a horseman than a jockey.”

While Queally makes a case that the thrill of victory can come with any horse, at any track and for any size purse, there's no doubt that his coming to Golden Gate was a move borne out of necessity. His fortunes in Europe waned considerably after Frankel retired in 2012 and he is need of a fresh start.

A native of Ireland, Queally was an unlikely jockey to be partnered with one of the greatest horses of all time. He described himself as a jockey who was a “quantity man.” He grinded away at his profession and was not considered on the same level as someone like Frankie Dettori, Olivier Peslier or William Buick. But that changed somewhat when he hooked on with Frankel's trainer, the late Sir Henry Cecil, in 2008 and became his top stable rider in 2009. With Queally aboard, Frankel broke his maiden on Aug. 13, 2010 at Newmarket. The jockey was aboard for all 14 of his starts, all of them wins.

“He was a very special race horse,” Queally said. “He was out on his own in terms of physical presence, looks and demeanor. And then there was his ability, more so than anything else. Still thinking back now, it is quite surreal. He opened a lot of doors for me. I was sort of a rock solid but run-of-the mill jockey and suddenly I was being recognized on the streets in London. I'm quite a low-key guy, but that changed a lot for me. He opened a lot of doors for me, including riding in a lot of jurisdictions around the world, places that never would have been so welcoming if not for Frankel.”

Frankel retired in 2012 and a year later Cecil died. Both are obvious reasons why Queally was not able to remain near the top rung of European jockeys. This year in the UK, he's had 30 wins from 397 mounts, for a winning rate of 7.56%. That's not to say he hasn't enjoyed his moments. He is the regular rider of The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), a two-time Group 1 winner and the winner of this year's G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot.

“Frankel sort of changed my approach and my overall demeanor toward riding,” Queally said. “I began to focus more on quality and that was quite an easy thing to do while he was around. I've been very lucky since. I managed to find the top sprinter in The Tin Man, who made it to winner's circle at the top level, and most recently at Royal Ascot. But I understand you're only as good as the horse you're on and it's not going to be easy when you're not riding the best horses. That's just the way the cookie crumbles.”

Yet Queally feels he can do better and hopes that the move to the U.S. will reinvigorate his career. He said he wanted to ride in California because of the success he had at Santa Anita winning the 2009 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf aboard Midday (Oasis Dream {GB}) for Juddmonte Farm and Cecil. He said he chose Golden Gate over Santa Anita and Del Mar because he felt comfortable working with Northern California agent Dennis Patterson.

“This is a move I've been looking into over the last two, three years and I've put the wheels in motion over the last 12 months, getting a visa and work permit,” he said.

He has yet to decide if he will stay in California when the top- class flat racing resumes in Europe in the spring.

“A lot will depend on how it plays out,” he said. “My agent asked me the same question. I said to him that it's a blank canvas and if he can paint a picture that makes me stay here, so be it. The States have always been a place that interested me and I've had success here so I can't see any reason why I can't build on it.”

Queally said he arrived in California mid-week last week and he has been busy working horses and, with Patterson at his side, meeting trainers. He's found out that the fact he was Frankel's regular jockey is not a huge selling point among Northern California horsemen.

“Dennis did a good job preparing people for my arrival,” he said. “Yes, they're quite taken with the whole Frankel thing, but I think my real selling point is that I am a Breeders' Cup-winning jockey. Dennis flexes my muscles a little more with that line rather than with Frankel. People here are more likely to recognize Frankel the trainer than Frankel the horse. My big selling point is that I've ridden 25 Grade I winners globally and I've won a Breeders' Cup. That seems to be an easier selling point than the fact that I rode Frankel.”

Queally has two rides on today's card and very well could get off to a good start as his mount in the opener, Annisquam (Forestry), is the 7-5 morning-line favorite.