Moore is 'jockey of the decade'

The Brighton ace might go for a fourth major success of the year with Workforce in the Breeders’ Cup next month.

Moore won his first Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe riding the Khalid Abdullah-owned three-year-old on Sunday.

It followed his Derby-Oaks double on Workforce and Snow Fairy.

Guy Harwood, who saddled Khalid Abdullah’s Dancing Brave to King George and Arc glory in the same year, believes Moore is the best jockey of his era.

Harwood, from Pulborough, who is also an owner, said: “Someone as good as Ryan Moore only comes along once a decade, like a good horse. He is a world-class jockey.

“It’s impossible to compare him to jockeys from previous eras. It’s like comparing top horses. We talked about comparing Dancing Brave to the winner of the Arc last year, Sea The Stars. You can’t compare one genius with another.

“He has ability and horses run for him. Ryan’s got great timing and a racing brain and is blessed with real talent. That’s the difference between a good jockey and an outstanding one.

“He showed that extra talent in the Arc. Ryan had the confidence to sit and wait with the horse and was well rewarded.

“The fact Ryan’s father, Gary, trains and his late grandfather Charlie used to train in the county makes what he has achieved very much a Sussex family affair.”

Harwood believes Workforce’s Arc triumph was better than the the Derby success at Epsom.

He said: “The Arc is the ultimate test of a mile-and-a-half champion. It is a very tough race. The Derby is just for three-year-olds, an age early in their careers, but in the Arc you are up against horses of any age.

“You have to take on the best from all over Europe and Asia. The second was a Japanese horse (Nakayama Festa). The Japanese have brought up a lot of the best stock but you are not likely to come up against them in the Derby as they are busy at home with their own one.

“It was a terrific performance and very exciting for the owner and trainer. I know exactly how Workforce’s handler, Sir Michael Stoute, feels and he must have felt very nice indeed. After all, thankfully, I know the feeling.

“The horse was very brave to come through a narrow gap and went on and won well. Considering he hadn’t been on the track since the King George it was a great effort.”

Harwood believe an Arc winner has to exploit any chances.

He said: “You’ve got to make the most of your opportunities and be good enough to quicken through the gaps. People might say a horse is unlucky because he didn’t get the gaps. But the gaps are often there, particularly in a true run race. The question is: ‘Are you good enough to take them?’ “Ryan’s horse was good enough to find and go through the gap, albeit not a very big one, and get out of trouble.”

Workforce has been installed as a top-price 5-2 favourite for the Breeders Cup Turf at Churchill Downs in the United States on November 6 following an announcement from connections he may run.

Moore said: “My two biggest ambitions were to win the Derby and the Arc and Workforce has given me both.

“He’s very good. Things didn’t go right in the King George but the boss (Stoute) got him back into great shape. The horse really wanted to do it.”