Kieran Shoemark has been chosen to ride Dancing Gemini for trainer Roger Teal in the upcoming Coral-Eclipse at Sandown this weekend. The colt, sired by Camelot, had a strong start to the season with a second-place finish in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains in May. Despite a challenging race at the Derby in June, where he finished sixth due to a wide draw, connections remained optimistic and decided to skip Royal Ascot in favour of the top-level race at Sandown.
Dylan Browne McMonagle, who rode Dancing Gemini in his first two starts this season, is unavailable as he is required to ride for Joseph O’Brien on Saturday. Oisin Murphy was also considered but is committed to riding for John and Thady Gosden at Haydock. As a result, Shoemark will partner with Dancing Gemini as the colt returns to a 10-furlong distance for the weekend race.
Teal explained, “Al Riffa is committed for Joseph, we knew he had an entry, so we’ve worked around the idea that we won’t be getting Dylan. We set out to use a jockey familiar with our tracks, which will help us, though Dylan’s a very good jockey, and I’m sure he’s going to be champion in Ireland. It will help to have someone who is streetwise and has a bit of knowledge of the track, so that decision was made. Oisin Murphy was due to take the ride, but Mr Gosden has made an entry up in the Lancashire Oaks and Oisin is under contract to go out there. We’ve taken the chance on Kieran, and we think he ticks a lot of the boxes.”