Mick Goreham
Australian jockey Michael Edward (Mick) Goreham was born in Brisbane on October 6, 1948. He was apprenticed to Charles Bradshaw and rode his first winner on 100-1 shot My Oscar at Victoria Park, Adelaide.
Australian jockey Michael Edward (Mick) Goreham was born in Brisbane on October 6, 1948. He was apprenticed to Charles Bradshaw and rode his first winner on 100-1 shot My Oscar at Victoria Park, Adelaide.
He came to England at the start of the 1974 season to ride for Bishop Auckland trainer Denys Smith and had his first rides at Teesside Park on March 29, finishing runner-up, beaten half a length on the second of them.
He came to England at the start of the 1974 season to ride for Bishop Auckland trainer Denys Smith and had his first rides at Teesside Park on March 29, finishing runner-up, beaten half a length on the second of them.
It didn’t take him long to get off the mark, riding his first two British winners at Haydock on April 10: Carnlea in the George Fordham Plate and Major Lionel Holliday’s colt Hard Fighter in the Mornington Cannon Maiden Plate, both trained by Denys Smith.
It didn’t take him long to get off the mark, riding his first two British winners at Haydock on April 10: Carnlea in the George Fordham Plate and Major Lionel Holliday’s colt Hard Fighter in the Mornington Cannon Maiden Plate, both trained by Denys Smith.
Five days later he landed the Newcastle Easter Handicap for Smith aboard Sky Messenger. The following day, the opening day of Newmarket’s Craven Meeting, he won the Ladbroke Holidays Silver Sands Handicap on the seven-year-old Irish Mist, again trained by Smith. He came within a length of Group race success on the second day of the Craven Meeting, finishing runner-up on Royal Prerogative in the Earl of Sefton Stakes.
Five days later he landed the Newcastle Easter Handicap for Smith aboard Sky Messenger. The following day, the opening day of Newmarket’s Craven Meeting, he won the Ladbroke Holidays Silver Sands Handicap on the seven-year-old Irish Mist, again trained by Smith. He came within a length of Group race success on the second day of the Craven Meeting, finishing runner-up on Royal Prerogative in the Earl of Sefton Stakes.
May brought further successes including wins at Ayr and Catterick on Highland Sky, a double at Ayr on May 11 courtesy of Royal Prerogative, who defied topweight of 10 stone in the Yellow Pages Handicap, and Hard Fighter in the Montgomerie Stakes. On May 24 he won the valuable John Davies Handicap at Haydock on the Henry Cecil-trained James Young.
May brought further successes including wins at Ayr and Catterick on Highland Sky, a double at Ayr on May 11 courtesy of Royal Prerogative, who defied topweight of 10 stone in the Yellow Pages Handicap, and Hard Fighter in the Montgomerie Stakes. On May 24 he won the valuable John Davies Handicap at Haydock on the Henry Cecil-trained James Young.
On the first day of June, Mick notched a Thirsk double on Denys Smith’s pair Gracious Melody in the Bass Rose Bowl Handicap and Perdu in the Thirsk Stakes. He rode 66-1 outsider Radical to finish eighth of 18 in the Derby and, just over an hour later, finished second on Sky Messenger in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes.
On the first day of June, Mick notched a Thirsk double on Denys Smith’s pair Gracious Melody in the Bass Rose Bowl Handicap and Perdu in the Thirsk Stakes. He rode 66-1 outsider Radical to finish eighth of 18 in the Derby and, just over an hour later, finished second on Sky Messenger in the Group 3 Diomed Stakes.
He again delivered the goods for Denys Smith at Catterick on June 8, winning the Ladbroke Teesside Dragonara Handicap on Happy Hunter. Two days later he won an Edinburgh seller on Flatholm Jack for Bridlington trainer Bill Watts. Four days after that he rode Denys Smith’s two-year-old Shine On to victory at York.
He again delivered the goods for Denys Smith at Catterick on June 8, winning the Ladbroke Teesside Dragonara Handicap on Happy Hunter. Two days later he won an Edinburgh seller on Flatholm Jack for Bridlington trainer Bill Watts. Four days after that he rode Denys Smith’s two-year-old Shine On to victory at York.
By the time Royal Ascot came around, Mick had taken Britain by storm with 19 winners so far. He rode the 6-4 favourite, Royal Prerogative, in the opening race, the Queen Anne Stakes, over the straight mile. In what was a rough finish, Royal Prerogative finished third, beaten less than a length. However, the stewards, having viewed the replay, took the unprecedented decision to disqualify each of the first three past the post – the aptly-named Confusion, Gloss and Royal Prerogative – and award the race to the horse who had finished fourth, the Italian-trained Brook.
By the time Royal Ascot came around, Mick had taken Britain by storm with 19 winners so far. He rode the 6-4 favourite, Royal Prerogative, in the opening race, the Queen Anne Stakes, over the straight mile. In what was a rough finish, Royal Prerogative finished third, beaten less than a length. However, the stewards, having viewed the replay, took the unprecedented decision to disqualify each of the first three past the post – the aptly-named Confusion, Gloss and Royal Prerogative – and award the race to the horse who had finished fourth, the Italian-trained Brook.
Six days after the Royal Ascot debacle, Mick was back in the winner’s enclosure in the humbler surroundings of Pontefract after winning the seller on Walter Wharton’s filly Lady Mabel.
Six days after the Royal Ascot debacle, Mick was back in the winner’s enclosure in the humbler surroundings of Pontefract after winning the seller on Walter Wharton’s filly Lady Mabel.
Over the next three months Mick continued to ride winners for Denys Smith and for other northern-based trainers including Jack Calvert, Tommy Shedden, Ernie Carr and John Cousins. One of his last wins for Smith came on Hulita in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Cup at Lanark on September 7.
Over the next three months Mick continued to ride winners for Denys Smith and for other northern-based trainers including Jack Calvert, Tommy Shedden, Ernie Carr and John Cousins. One of his last wins for Smith came on Hulita in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Cup at Lanark on September 7.
He won three races on Tommy Sheddon’s two-year-old Handycuff, the last of which came in an Ayr nursery on September 18. That proved to be Mick’s final winner in Britain.
He won three races on Tommy Sheddon’s two-year-old Handycuff, the last of which came in an Ayr nursery on September 18. That proved to be Mick’s final winner in Britain.
He had his last rides at Redcar on September 28, finishing sixth on Flatholm Jack and unplaced on Sounds Good, before heading back to Australia. He had ridden a total of 32 winners from 306 mounts during his successful six-month stint, yet somewhat surprisingly, that was the end of his association with British racing.
He had his last rides at Redcar on September 28, finishing sixth on Flatholm Jack and unplaced on Sounds Good, before heading back to Australia. He had ridden a total of 32 winners from 306 mounts during his successful six-month stint, yet somewhat surprisingly, that was the end of his association with British racing.