When a jockey does his homework! INCREDIBLE ride from Mickael Barzalona 😮

Take a bow, Mickael Barzalona! Check out this amazing ride at Saint-Cloud which saw him switch across the track twice to take Listed honours aboard the Waldemar Hickst-trained Normfliegerin...

[golden.lights.twinkle]

This is the calmest horse-racing commentator I've ever heard.

[RyanS]

It's amazing how fast they can go with only one horse power.

[dazediss]

Greater distance, better ground. Bold call but clearly a fantastic jockey.

[schrodingerscat]

Great tactics there to run wide where the going was firmer, then staying inside when the ground was running faster there. Very smart move.

[notadumbblond]

I've never understood why everybody stays in that pack. I know it gets ingrained to stay close to the rail because it's a shorter run and you can drag off the others, but when the ground is soft, like trying to run in soft sand, that's where injuries, pulled tendons and ligaments happen. Trips and falls too.

When I rode as an exerciser for my riding lesson teacher, who owned a couple race horses, she let me ride their veteran stallion to show me what a fully experienced race horse can do. And what I learned is, you could put a doll on their backs and they would still run the race. The jockey's only role is guiding the horse and enjoy the ride.

Only instructions I was given: hold on tight, keep him away from the rail, if he goes to the rail watch your inside leg, when you see me waive, start pulling him up.

It was supposed to just be me, but the other trainers saw what was about to happen and threw a couple jockeys up on their horses to go for a "short gallop". They just happened to be let into the track right as that practice gate flew open.
I will admit, as a 16 yr old, it was intimidating. They of course proceeded to "join me" in practice. And that veteran 10 yr old stallion left them in the dust.

Lol! I heard one of trainers berating one of the riders, "A GIRL beat you??!"

If he only knew, I had nothing to do with it. I was just the passenger.

100% once in a lifetime experience.

[vojrcgk]

I love how the race caller switched from metric to imperial without missing a beat.

[MTerrance]

Not only did that jockey pick the fastest line, but it was also the least taxing line. When he took the lead not only did he have a substantial lead, but his horse was way less exhausted. Brilliant.

[kirnpu]

I've honestly never ever seen a run like that! Great strategy.

[Ojb_]

Proves you need more than just a fast horse and good jockey, a fast hard track pays off. Great strategy 🏁

[Ballr]

Wow, I had never seen that in a horse race before! Great job by the jockey and the horse!

[anniehope]

It's also not easy to do. A horse always wants to stay with the pack, especially when racing. So you can think of a tactic like this, you also have to persuade your horse to actually do it. That jockey is a great horseman.

[georgeariane]

Now that is a smart jockey! Takes a lot of bottle and skill to ride so tactically. Very impressed.

[jeffreyrobinson]

Give that man a beer that was a perfect ride he knew exactly what he was doing the whole way.

[roberthartley]

you can see at 2 min 20 secs that the main body are churning up the ground but the winner is on the firmer ground on the opposite rail. Lovely ride.

[ronin_gthayc]

I'm not into horseracing but that was some top class riding .

[dixietenbroeck]

It's _WONDERFUL_ to see *a Jockey who's smart enough to **_"RUN THE TRACK"_** rather than RUN TO EXPECTATION."_*
*A BEAUTIFUL RACE!*

[nancyallen]

Very interesting! Adds so much to flat out racing. The terrain comes into play. Good stuff!

[danstewart]

What a beautiful horse - such a beautiful and characterful stride on her! Amazing. 👍

[Treatyse]

Not a watcher of horse racing but found this fascinating- the tactics are inspiring. Even my 7 year old young it funny but educational.

[redbulls]

Never seen anything like this. Very cool thing to watch. What a smart jockey!