Following Callum Shepherd's jockeying off of Robert Havlin in favour of the second favourite in this year's Epsom Classic, Ambiente Friendly, on Wednesday, Derby-winning jockey Martin Dwyer has questioned what more the rider could have done.
Shepherd had anticipated his maiden mount in the Derby after steering Ambiente Friendly to a four-and-a-half-length victory in the Lingfield Derby Trial this month. However, owners Tim and Bill Gredley notified Shepherd that the ride would go to Havlin.
Tim Gredley stated that he and his father had chosen to go for "more experience on the day". Havlin, who surprised everyone on Saturday by winning on Audience in the Lockinge Stakes, rode James Fanshawe's colt in two canters up Warren Hill in Newmarket on Wednesday morning.
Though he believes Shepherd has shown the temperament and tactical awareness for a major assignment, Dwyer, who won the Derby on Sir Percy in 2006 and has also enjoyed major Epsom successes on Casual Look in the Oaks and Pyledriver in the Coronation Cup, contends that Shepherd's wide-margin success at Lingfield was aided by his finesse aboard Ambiente Friendly.
"I didn't think Callum deserved to lose the ride, I think he's proved himself worthy of riding a big player in the Derby and I don't see the logic in taking him off," he said. "You think to yourself sometimes, what more does he have to do? I think the horse was a bit keen on his first start of the year and Callum did well to get the horse to switch off last time."
"It's great for Rab," said the recently retired Dwyer, a weighing room contemporary at 48 to Havlin's 50. "He rode a Group 1 winner the other day, he's top class and it's great to see him getting opportunities with top-quality rides because he deserves it. But I don't think Callum deserved to lose that ride. He's a skilful jockey, he's shown a good temperament and he rides Epsom well. I see no reason to take him off."
The 26-year-old Shepherd stated on Wednesday that he was "disappointed" by the news but declined to comment further. Considering the experiences the jockey will have in the days preceding the race on Saturday of next week, Dwyer stated: "This happened to Tom Marquand four years ago and he played it the right way. Look at him now, he's probably getting three or four offers in Classics. Callum is a smart, articulate lad and he seems to have taken it on the chin, so hopefully he'll bounce out of it. I'm sure he'll keep his head down but secretly, if he's watching that Derby, he'll be hoping the horse doesn't win because I can't imagine anything worse."
While expressing compassion for Shepherd's predicament, Havlin declared that he was now entirely focused on the task at hand.