Breeders Cup Jockeys

It's important when looking at your Breeders Cup betting to make sure you have the right man onboard. This is especially the case when backing European runners as it's important that they have a jockey with expience in the saddle. We've picked out some of the jockeys to keep an eye out on when placing your bet on the 2009 Breeders Cup.

Garrett Gomez

Garrett Gomez is the jockey to follow in US racing where he shares similarities with Kieran Fallon. Gomez has also also experienced difficulties in the past but seems to have come back as strong as ever having won three US Champion Jockey titles from 2006 to 2008. Gomez has seven Breeders Cup winners to his name including four wins in the 2008 meet at Santa Anita Park. Make sure you check the Breeders Cup form and runners to see what rides Garrett Gomez has in 2009.

John Velazquez

John Velazquez moved to the United Staes to be a jockey from his homeland in Puerto Rico. Velazquez has won six Breeders Cup races and had countless placed finishes. He still commands top jockey bookings and the Breeders Cup trainers will be queuing up to get him in the saddle. In 2004, Velazquez won the Bill Shoemaker Award for the top Breeders Cup jockey performance having won the Distaff and Sprint onboard Ashado and Speightstown respectively.

Frankie Dettori

When backing a European runner at the Breeders Cup make sure the jockey booking is that of either a native or a European jockey who has plenty of experience on US racetracks. The housewife's favourite Frankie Dettori certainly has bags of experience in America having bagged eight Breeders Cup winners. Frankie has winners in the Filly and Mare Turf, Juvenie and Juvenile Turf. His first Breeders Cup win came back in 1994 onboard Barathea in the Mile and he also had a big win in the Classic in 2008 onboard Raven's Pass for John Gosden. Dettori saves his best for the Breeders Cup Turf however having won the race three times, most recently atop Red Rocks in the 2006 renewal.

Johnny Murtagh

Johnny Murtagh is the stable jockey for Ballydoyle and Aiden O'Brien, which means winning comes easy and often for the Irishman. Murtagh only has two wins in the Breeders Cup having won the Mile in 1995 and the Turf in 2000. However, Aiden O'Brien will be sending across an army of prospects for the 2009 Breeders Cup and Murtagh will have the pick of the rides.

Every racetrack in the States is different, but one thing for sure is that all the tracks are different from those raced on in Europe, often a lot tighter so race tactics are very important.

Get all the latest odds for the 2009 Breeders Cup.