The man who partnered Frankel in all 14 of his superb wins on the flat, Tom Queally is now set to step outside his comfort zone and take out his jumps license in an attempt to gain more rides and winners.
The rider has recently been riding in bumpers for specific trainers, getting the feel for the national hunt scene and on Thursday finished a credible second on board his brothers horse The Getaway Star in a Listed bumper for mares at Market Rasen that was won easily by the Willie Mullins trained Plan Of Attack, giving the master trainer his first win at the track with his first runner.
This is not the first time that Queally has rode for his sibling Declan, who is stationed in County Waterford in Ireland, meaning that the jockey has been out there a couple of times and on New Year's Day they landed a nice winner together at Tramore with Owenacurra Lass in a maiden hurdle.
(Credit Racing Post) The rider said: "Dec has got a few decent bumper horses and I've no problem riding in hurdles or chases if needs be.
"A lot of trainers I ride for in England are dual-purpose and I have a lot of National Hunt connections. I sometimes school for Nigel Twiston-Davies, ride regularly for Alan King and had a big winner for Philip Hobbs [Big Easy in the 2014 Cesarewitch]."
Goosebumps... Frankel, finishing off his outstanding career in typical style in the 2012 Champion Stakes! pic.twitter.com/7yPx9XsuHA
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 18, 2019
Queally has seen a decline in his winners on the flat over the last few years and believes that turning to jumps racing could be the change he needs to get back in the winners enclosure more frequently.
He rode a century of winners in Britain for four years in a row between 2008 and 2011 with the Frankel effect helping him massively in between this time, but that tally was down to just 15 last year.
The 35 year old jockey is still committed to racing on the flat with him looking to stick to all weather meetings but now will seek rides during national hunt meetings aswell and he is very much looking forward to the new challenge.
"It's another string to my bow and it's within my comfort zone," he said.
"You get a little bit heavier in the winter and I'm in a position to ride.
"I don't have a big job or anyone tapping me on my shoulder saying 'what are you playing at?' It's something I've always wanted to do and this is the opportunity to do it."