Alcohol Free Beats the Boys in July Cup

Jockey Rob Hornby belongs at the top table. Prosperous Voyage 's surprise win in the July 8 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1) was a polite reminder not to forget him and then, little more than 24 hours later, Alcohol Free 's blitz in the July 9 Darley July Cup (G1) was an emphatic, chest-beating, proud declaration of his talents. Hornby, simply, is very good.

Last month he was in danger of becoming typecast as a jockey you replaced if you were fortunate enough to have a really good horse.

Juddmonte gave him the chance in the Cazoo Derby (G1) and Westover  met trouble en route to being beaten. Replaced by Colin Keane, Westover won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (G1) by seven lengths.

And yet, for all that Hornby said the right things and took it on the chin, he was not ready to accept that fate. His career has been a slow burn, a product of the Andrew Balding academy. He was not one of its superstar graduates—until now.

Hornby knew this weekend was important if he was to change that perception before it was too late. Earlier this week he told his mother excitedly he had two group 1 rides in two days, and they both had chances. He took both of them.

"It won't be an alcohol-free weekend," he quipped when asked how he would celebrate.

Riding in the famous Jeff Smith silks for the trainer he joined as a 16-year-old "because I wasn't very good at school," Hornby produced the sort of ride which meant that in a six-furlong group 1 filled with some of the best sprinters from around the world, he could stand up in his irons and punch the air fully three or four strides before the line.

After Prosperous Voyage's win, Hornby was asked multiple times about the Westover saga. It is a mark of how well he spoke, not to mention the degree to which his riding had done the talking, that here it was all about him.

Not that the rider saw it that way. Asked to sum up taking his career group 1 tally from one to three in little more than 24 hours he said: "It's crazy really; it's amazing; I'm speechless. Yesterday was amazing but to have two group 1 rides in two days is fantastic let alone two winners.

"Alcohol Free is a three-, now a four-time, group 1 winner. These rides are huge to get and I'm very thankful to Mr. Balding and Mr. Smith, and the whole team need credit."She's a fiery character and there's a lot that goes on at home behind the scenes to manage her. Rachel, who looks after her, certainly has a few more scars now."

Coming into the race, sprinting had been the big question mark. Alcohol Free had won the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) over six furlongs at two, but since then her group 1 wins have come over a mile in the Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes (G1) at Glorious Goodwood.

"I think we'll stick to six furlongs now," Hornby said before elaborating. "I was unsure at half-way. She got a bit unorganized and I wasn't sure if she was feeling the ground but once I got her into top gear and she hit the rising ground she pulled away and won really convincingly."

Speaking of ability, a mention must go to the James Doyle-ridden Naval Crown , who, like Alcohol Free, has reverted to sprinting this season and from the front saw off all but the winner, with Australian raider Artorius  completing the trifecta.