Richard Hughes, who has been associated with Khalid Abdullah's horses for the last seven years, is to ride as a freelance jockey next season.
Hughes, in third place in the table and celebrating his best season for several years, said today that ‘both parties are in agreement that the partnership has run its course.’
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid, stressed that there has been no fall-out with Juddmonte's retained jockey and that he would continue to ride their horses until the end of the turf season and on occasions next year. Abdullah does not plan to appoint a retained rider next term.
He said: ‘Richard has ridden some marvellous races for us and we have enjoyed a very happy relationship, with the highlights including champion sprinter Oasis Dream and his Prix de Diane success on Nebraska Tornado.’
Hughes, 34, who followed Pat Eddery as Abdullah's number one jockey when the 11-times champion retired, paid tribute to Prince Khalid, declaring that "he is a true gentleman and a very nice man to ride for.’
He added: ‘I have thoroughly enjoyed the job, and Lord Grimthorpe and all his staff at Juddmonte have all been very helpful, as have the trainers, John Gosden, Henry Cecil, Barry Hills, Roger Charlton, Amanda Perrett and Pat Eddery.
‘But nothing is forever, and it is time to move on and look for fresh challenges. Going freelance will make me much more available, and, besides committing myself more to Richard Hannon and Brian Meehan, who have always been so supportive, I will hopefully be able to spread myself more.
‘Prince Khalid and I had a lot of luck together, and, apart from Oasis Dream and Nebraska Tornado, there was no more special memory than helping Henry Cecil celebrate his first Group One winner for more than six years when riding Passage of Time to victory in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud last November.
‘It was also always so satisfying getting to know the Juddmonte families and riding the brothers and sisters and sons and daughters of horses that I had ridden to victory in the past, and, while we will be going our separate ways from next year, I wish the Juddmonte team all the best for the future and still hope to ride for them on occasions.’
Hughes, stressed that he is ‘as hungry to ride winners as I was 10 years ago,’ and, recalling that he won the Irish Champion Hurdle for Noel Meade on Cockney Lad in 1997, revealed that he is ‘seriously thinking about taking my jumps licence out again.’
He added: ‘NH racing is in the blood, and, while the Flat will always be the number one priority, I'd love to give jumping a go again and the ambition has always been to take the odd ride over fences. The appetite is as strong as it ever was, and I have no thoughts orF retiring just yet.’
