Ricky Jadoo has always been sought by owners and trainers alike. From his early days with Mal Lewis in south Trinidad, to Jack Debideen in Port-of-Spain, Jadoo's cool, quiet and collective, yet confident manner was infectious. Today, Jadoo commands the respect of all trainers and owners and yet has the admiration of his colleagues of the pigskin. He is the jockey I consider to be the best rider at Santa Rosa Park. He has won the championship three times. Yet, in this year's Republic Bank Ltd Derby, he did not have a ride until the Sunday before the Derby when Gary Laban fell. Laban was booked to partner Back on Top for owner Junior Sammy and trainer Terrence Thomas. But it was not to be.
Jadoo shot the 5/2 co-favourite of four, into the lead going to 600 metres marker and withheld the challenge of Go For The Gold to register his fourth victory in the Derby, thus giving himself a great birthday present. He turns 43 today. In the process, Jadoo joined Nobel Abrego as the winningest jockey of the Derby since centralisation. I remember watching Jadoo ride Night Princess for the legendary Eric 'Colt' Durant. He dictated the pace and won as he liked. Durant told me in the late 80s: "Once I have a good light-weight horse and he has a chance, I am giving the ride to Jadoo."
That says a lot for Jadoo.
One can only look back and remember his brilliant performances aboard the Glenn Mendez trained/Merlin Samlalsingh owned Top Of The Class. Jadoo got interested in horses when his father took him to the paddock at Union Park in Marabella. "I fell in love with horses that day and I knew that was my future." His early days was spent with Lewis before he went to the jockey school for 18 months. "When I graduated, I rode my first winner Amber Light for Lewis." He was quick to point out that Venice "Pappy" Richards influenced his early career. Why? "You could not fault him on on a horse's back." Over the years, Jadoo has been remarkably successful, and he points out his success was due to hard work.
"For 28 years I worked really hard and it has paid off. For that I am thankful. I am proud of what I have achieved." Jadoo lives with his wife and daughters in San Fernando and gets up at 4 am to be at the track by 5 am. "Regularly, I work 10-12 horses a day." He has had his share of hard luck stories and hit the "ground" on many occasions in his career. But the likeable Jadoo who has a posse named after him stated: "Racing is unpredictable and anything can happen. Horses have different personalities and moods and you don't know how they will behave on any given day." Jadoo, who tips the scale at 50 kilos, has never had weight problems. "I am able to eat anything and keep my weight."
Over the years, Jadoo has been entrusted with quite an array of thoroughbred. Among his top rides were Sian's Gold which he claims is the best horse he has ridden. He believes Top of The Class is just as good as his other Derby winners New Millennium and Mucho Tempo. On Friday, he outwitted Nobel Abrego to win the Derby Stakes. Punters still speak about his ride on Invincibility to defeat Sugar Mike in the Santa Rosa Dash some years ago while but Mucho Tempo's victory over Latonia in the Derby was simply outstanding. Jadoo is thankful Jadoo to owner Junior Sammy for giving him the ride on Back On Top. "When Mr Sammy called me and asked me to ride the horse I was elated.
I want to thank trainer Terrence Thomas who prepared the horse. I did the easy part. But, I want to say a special thanks to jockey Sheldon Rodrigo who I asked to exercised the horse for me throughout the last week. I also want to thank Gary Laban who played an important role in this horse's career and preparation. I am the third jockey to sit on this horse as only Laban and Rodrigo have ridden him. It is sad, that Laban did not ride the winner but he must be congratulated for getting the horse to this level."
When asked when he thought he had won, Jadoo said: "From the time he broke smartly and was travelling easily first time past the post. Yes, he was asking for his head but we all know how head-strung he is. I thought it was all over five furlongs out as he was travelling powerfully and the plan was to hold up as long as possible and kick three furlongs out. I kicked in time and that was it." Really, Jadoo's performances has shown, that he is at the top of the class.