Knight/Culloty arrangement changed
Sunday, 1 May 2005 17:41Jim Culloty will not ride as stable jockey to Henrietta Knight next season although he will continue his partnership with triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate. The 32-year-old has been on the sidelines since hurting his arm in a fall at
Cheltenham last month and is expected to operate as a freelance in the future.
Miss Knight's husband and assistant Terry Biddlecombe said: "We won't be using a stable jockey next season. We don't want to stand in Jim's way if he wants to take more rides. He will still ride Best Mate and I think Jim will be happy - it was something he suggested."
Best Mate's owner Jim Lewis said the ride on his star would be Culloty's for as long as he wanted it.
He said: "As far as I'm concerned, for as long as Jim is available to ride Best Mate and my other horses, he will always be there as number one choice.
"He's a top-class jockey and a good pal of ours and I wouldn't have it any other way. He's done lots for my wife Valerie and I and we would never want to change that, unless it suited Jim not to ride.
"He's got a future to look to with a young son and a young wife and he's got other priorities. If Jim isn't available we are fortunate to have other good jockeys around but he is the number one until he tells me he can't ride. If he made that decision I would understand completely."
