Even when he’s not smiling Marco Ghiani looks cheerful. Last month 22-year-old Ghiani was crowned Champion Apprentice for the recently concluded All Weather season, but now the serious business begins as the turf season starts to blossom. Almost every Italian jockey who lands on these shores is hailed as ‘the next Frankie Dettori’ but as we will discover long after Frankie hangs up his boots, there’s only one Frankie. Not even the brilliant Andrea Atzeni, now an established world-class pilot, can aspire to such an accolade.
There’s no point getting too big for your boots, and Ghiani’s boots aren’t very big. I didn’t produce my measuring pole when we met recently at Wolverhampton but after lowering the interview microphone on the socially distanced Sky Sports Racing tripod, I would guess he stands around five foot, and we didn’t mention shoe size.
A relaxed demeanour can count for plenty, as Hugh my yoga teacher frequently remarks. There’s no need to grin like a Cheshire Cat all day long, but even a minute upward curl of the mouth can produce calming qualities in the heat of battle. I’ve noticed that most world-class athletes in all sports appear to perform as if they have all the time in the world. Just look at Dettori, Murphy or Moore when they next win a big race. Cucumbers all three.
Denne historien er fra May 2021-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra May 2021-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
LOOKING BRIGHT FOR IRISH STARS
Karl Hedley reports as jumps challengers pile on the heat across the water
WELL SET TO STEP AHEAD
Ben Morgan has ten warming prospects to follow in the coming weeks
CUE FOR MANY A CELEBRATION
Graham Buddry recalls the life and times of jumps legend Cue Card
KID KAN DOO FOR NICHOLLS
Paul Jacobs casts a close eye over leading picks for this month's big races
TWISTER RUNS MASTER CLASS
John Anthony watches Nigel Twiston-Davies' star catch time judges' eye
NO LEAVES ON LINE TO SLOW THESE FLYERS
Simon Nott enjoys a West Country Weekend catching up with ring pals
EXPECTATIONS SOAR AT RIDGE
Nick Townsend talks to rising Newmarket training star James Owen
KID KAN DOO FOR NICHOLLS
Paul Jacobs casts a close eye over leading picks for this month's big races
NORMA'S COLOURS ARE FLYING PROUD
Robert Cooper sees Percy Willis and Kaadam grace white and green spots and red cap
CHIANTI FLOWS AS NEW LION GROWLS
Prior to the National Hunt season 'proper' getting underway at Chepstow the question on many people's lips was whether or not Willie Mullins would target a second consecutive British trainers' title.