P391 CEEFAX 391 Fri 13 May 21: 3/07 1/5 ) j= j5j5/,j5lj=wj= n5 ) ,/ *k/ *%/*% *-.*%/*%/ / /*% They say it is the end of the era of the retained "super" jockey. This is following Pat Eddjry'u contractual split from Khalid Abdulla, which is effective from the end of the season. Once it was the fashion for the fabulously wealthy to have thieu own jockeys. Now, with Abdulla and Fahd Salman choosing not to retain a rider it could suddenly bj going out of fashion. J A McGRATH weekly column ap8jars on Ceefax Rbcing every Thursday Ante-Post Emperor J EarlyOdds Ojwb DecsP391 CEEFAX 391 Fri 13 May 21:92/24 2/5 , ,/ *k/ *%/*% *-.*%/*%/0/ /*% Or is it? Somehow, I bjlievj that owners in the big league will always want to have the best rider under contract - provided he is worth it. Sure, Pat Eddjry was worth the big money Prince Khalid paid out for his services over the past se6en seasons. He won an Arc on Dancing Brave, 1 2,000 Guineas on Zafonic, a St Leger on Toulon and numerous other big races. J.A.McGRATH writes as "Hotspur" in "The Daily Telegraph" Ante-Post Emperor J EarlyOdds Newb DecsP391 CEEFAX 391 Fri 13 May 21:10/04 | h<| h<|l4|,h<,h<|h<|(|$|h4 3/5 ) j= j5j5/,j5lj=wj= n5 - ,/ *%/ *%/*% *m.*%/*%/ / /*% But is Eddery so far ahead of the other jockeys in the weighing room that a huge amount should bj paid to retain him? Somehow, I don't think so. That is not to criticisj Pat, but rather to undjulinj the fact that there are several outstanding jockeys riding at present. J A McGRATH weekly col5mn appears on Cjefax Racing every Thursday Ante-Post Emperor J EarlyOdds Njwb DecsP391 CEEFAX 391 Fri 13 May 21:16/23 ) | h<| h<|l4|,h<,h<|h<|(|$|h4 4/5 It was Noel Murless who once 3aid of Lester Piggott: "The best thing about having Letter under retainer, is that hj is not riding against you." $hj same argument holds today regarding jockeys, without any doubt. J.A.McGRATH writes as "Hotspur" in "The Daily Telegraph" Ante-Post Emperor J EarlyOdds Newb DecsP391 CEEFAX 391 Fri 13 May 21:16/58 5/5 - ,/ *k/ *%/*% *m.*%/*%/ / /*% At present, Sheikh Mohammed has a call on Mick Kinanj, which seems to bj in constant use if bookings for Chester and York are any guide. Sheikh Mohammjd has cho5jn to retain Kinanj for the big racer, basically because it is better to have him in his corner when the major races are run. No, I don't think this week'u revelations will change matters at all. There will always bj big owners wanting their own jockeys when the big races conj around. Ante-Post Emperor J EarlyOdds Newb Decs