Jamie Piggott with trainer Tommy Stack (centre) and Fozzy Stack© Photo Healy Racing
Jamie Piggott, son of legendary jockey Lester Piggott, made his racecourse debut at Killarney today, steering Pivotal Rock into seventh place in the Killarney Grand Live Music Venue Handicap.
Piggott Junior's appearance in the saddle attracted much attention but the 19 year old appeared none too fussed over the media storm, later expressing his satisfaction with the ride, saying “it was a good experience and the horse is good and honest but needed that bit extra today.”
Pivotal Rock had been backed into 6/1 favouritism (from as big as 11/1 this morning) and while he raced with the pace in the early stages, gradually weakened in the home straight to eventually finish seventh of 13.
Piggott, whose sister and RTE sports presenter Tracy Piggott was present, stated “I completed my A-levels in Maths and three Sciences before giving riding a go. I'm only riding properly for eight months. I've have been riding out in Tommy Stack's (trainer of Pivotal Rock) and have been there full time since before the winter; hopefully I can make a career of being a jockey now.”
Fozzy Stack, representing his father Tommy, later reported “Jamie did nothing wrong today and I was pleased with him. He happens to have an unfortunate surname as nobody will ever beat his father!”
The race itself was won by the Pat Flynn trained 20/1 outsider Measured Approval
Winning jockey Danny Grant later stated “he ran a cracker at The Curragh but disappointed on his last two starts so we decided to change tactics with him today. We were worried about the ground but they went a good pace and he got into the race easily and everything worked out.”
The previous occasion when the surname Piggott competed on an Irish racecourse was at The Curragh in 1997 when both Lester and Tracy Piggott competed in a 29 runner Charity Race in aid of injured jockey Shane Broderick.
Tracy did get 'one up' on her more illustrious father then, finishing fourth, 11 places ahead of her father. That particular gem of a race also featured, among others, Tracy Piggott's RTE colleague Robert Hall (12th) with Dorans Pride filling fifth spot.
By Thomas Weekes
