Cochrane, Ray

Ray Cochrane was born in Ulster on June 18, 1957.He served a five year apprenticeship with Barry Hills before joining Ron Sheather's stable where he spent the next two years.

His first winner was Roman Way who scored at Windsor on September 18, 1974.

However, his weight began to rocket, and he began riding over the jumps, landing his first winner on Wanlockhead on August 1. 1977 (2.15 Newton Abbott)

He managed to contain his weight, successfully returning to ride on the flat. In 1980, he won the One Thousand Guineas Trial at Salisbury on Battlewind.

He rode Nagwa, a flying two-year-old filly, who won 13 times in 1975, a 20th-century record.

He went on to ride  3 classic winners.

Ray received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in 2002 for saving the life of fellow jockey Frankie Dettori following a plane crash at Newmarket on June 1, 2000.

Afterwards he became a sports agent.

He plays squash, golf and enjoys walking the dogs.

Classic wins:

1986:  One Thousand Guineas - Midway Lady

1986:  The Oaks - Midway Lady

1988:  The Derby - Kahyasi

Other big wins:

1983:  Coventry Stakes -Chief Singer

1984:  July Cup - Chief Singer

1984:  Sussex Stakes - Chief Singer

1985:  Portland Handicap - Lochtillum

1986:  Middle Park Stakes - Mister Majestic 

1989:  Champion Stakes - Legal Case

1989:  Coronation Cup - Sheriff's Star

1989:  Irish One Thousand Guineas - Ensconce

1990:  Breeders Turf Classic - Cacoethes

1991:  July Cup - Polish Patriot

1991:  Quuen Elizabeth Stakes - Selkirk

1993:  Yorkshire Oaks - Only Royale

1993:  Ayr Gold Cup - Hard To Figure

1998:  Caulfield Cup - Taufan's Melody

1998:  Portland Handicap - Cadeaux Cher

1999:  French One Thousand Guineas - Valentine Waltz