Jamie Spencer is a legendary name in British racing and he is on his way to show off his riding skills to the South African public on Friday and Sunday at Tuffontein and Kenilworth respectively.

He comes to South Africa is top form winning two group races in the past month including an American group 1 on the now retired Cape Blanco for Irish champion trainer, Aiden O'Brien.

He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won four classics, two in each country. Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most naturally talented, UK-based jockeys - despite not having a high-profile employer. He is an advocate for the art of holding up horses late into the races, and then making use of their natural dash of speed.

Son of former County Tipperary National Hunt trainer George Spencer, who trained Winning Fair to win the Champion Hurdle in 1963,[1] Jamie Spencer came to horse riding relatively late in childhood. He made rapid progress and was just 17 when he won his first classic, the 1998 Irish 1,000 Guineas on Tarascon, in the process becoming the youngest jockey to win a classic. He was champion apprentice in Ireland the following year with 46 winners.

Spencer's mercurial talents led to him briefly becoming stable jockey for Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle. While in that job, he was champion jockey in Ireland in 2004, with 93 winners. After O'Brien and Spencer parted company,[2] he was replaced as stable jockey in 2005 by Kieren Fallon. Spencer moved to Britain, where he was champion jockey in 2005, with 180 winners.[3]

In 2007 Spencer was again British Champion Jockey,[1] sharing the title on this occasion with Seb Sanders.

In January 2010, Spencer signed a contract to ride as retained jockey for Mrs Fitri Hay, whose principal trainer is Paul Cole, with other horses trained by Stan Moore and Tom Tate.[4] In 2010, the trainers for whom Spencer rode most frequently were Michael Bell, Kevin Ryan and Paul Cole. The Hay contract saw him riding again for Aidan O'Brien after she bought shares in multiple Group 1 winners Fame And Glory and Cape Blanco, both of whom continued to be trained by O'Brien. Spencer's wins for O'Brien in the Hay colours included the 2011 Ascot Gold Cup on Fame And Glory.

Jamie Spencer is well known for tactical riding, keeping horses well towards the back of the field and coming with a late run, amongst other things.

Source: Racing Post

Wikipedia