Energized in England, Stevens May Miss Gold Cup

Gary Stevens has a message for anyone interested in how he’s doing since he began riding in England for trainer Michael Stoute less than a month ago.

So far, better than good, says the Hall of Fame jockey who rode Silver Charm to victories in the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Stevens, who said he had won with 10 of his first 56 mounts, is enjoying the change and relishing the opportunity to work the horses he will eventually ride.

“I’m loving it,” he said by phone earlier this week, just hours after he won the Queen Anne Stakes, a Group II race, aboard Cape Cross on the first day at Royal Ascot.

“There’s no monotony. I’m riding different courses every day and not making left-hand turns all day long.

“The reception has been very, very nice from fans, owners, trainers and other jockeys. It’s been very refreshing.”

Stevens is committed for the rest of the English racing season, until mid-fall.

“It’s too early to speculate [on what’s going to happen], but I’m enjoying myself right now, and the horses are running very, very well,” he said. “I think all parties are happy with the way things are going. I feel like I’m learning all over again and that a whole new book has been opened to me.

“[Stoute] has a very powerful [stable] and he’s got some very good 2-year-olds coming up.

“I’m probably not riding any more horses than I was [in the United States], but I think I’m working more than I have in the last 10 years. I enjoy getting on the horses [in the morning] that I’m going to be riding.”

Stevens was expected at Hollywood Park to ride Real Quiet in the $1-million Sempra Energy Hollywood Gold Cup on June 27 and Manistique in the $400,000 Vanity and General Challenge in the $125,000 Affirmed Handicap the day before, but it appears he will be occupied elsewhere that weekend.

Stevens, who rode Beat All to a third-place finish in the Epsom Derby earlier this month, is scheduled to ride him in the Irish Derby at the Curragh the same day as the Gold Cup.

Although it is difficult to keep up on a daily basis with what is happening in the United States, Stevens was aware of the significance of the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs last Saturday.

Victory Gallop won, but more important, the Foster was the final start of Silver Charm’s career. The 5-year-old gray’s retirement was revealed Sunday by owners Bob and Beverly Lewis and trainer Bob Baffert.

Almost all of Silver Charm’s major victories came in tandem with Stevens, including Triple Crown races in 1997 and the thrilling win by a nose over Swain in the 1998 Dubai World Cup.

Earlier this year, Stevens began to believe Silver Charm’s best days were behind him.

“The first time I sensed it was in the Dubai World Cup [where he finished sixth in what proved to be his next-to-last start],” said the jockey. “I think the talent is still there, but he’s a very intelligent horse who had been campaigned hard, and they will start to look out for themselves.

“It breaks my heart when I see him lose by five or six lengths [Silver Charm was beaten about eight lengths, finishing fourth, in the Foster], but he doesn’t owe anybody anything.

“He provided so many thrills and did so much for the sport. He may have run one or two more races than he should have at the end, but he certainly proved all he needed to prove. . . .

“Without a doubt, he’s my favorite of all the horses I’ve ridden and I don’t believe there’s ever going to be a horse who will replace him.

“I may have ridden faster horses, but I never rode a horse who had the try in him that he did.”