Joe Mercer: all-time great whose classical style made him a perfect role model

Joe Mercer, who died on Monday aged 86, was a great jockey – champion in 1979 and rider of Brigadier Gerard in all his races.

He scored 2,810 domestic victories, which ranks him among the top ten most prolific winning jockeys of all time in Britain, and was stable jockey in turn to Dick Hern and Henry Cecil.

Mercer won two Classics on the Queen's Highclere and rode Bustino in the 'Race of the Century'. His other stars included Song, Sallust and Kris, exceptional stayers Buckskin and Le Moss, and King George-winning filly Time Charter.

John Oaksey once wrote: "He is not only the most stylish Flat-race jockey I have ever seen, but also one of the most consistent, effective and above all reliable."

Riding legend and Brigadier Gerard's jockey Joe Mercer dies aged 86

After retiring from the saddle, Mercer spent 19 years as racing manager to Maktoum Al Maktoum's Gainsborough Stud, and guided the careers of Zilzal and Kris Kin.

Joseph Mercer was born at the family home in Bradford on October 25, 1934, the son of a coach painter. His brother Manny was six years older and already a successful jockey when Joe became apprenticed to Sparsholt trainer Fred Sneyd on his 13th birthday.

He was still only 15 when he rode his first winner, Eldoret at Bath in September 1950, weighing out at 6st 7lb. In the apprentice table he was runner-up to Lester Piggott in 1952 and champion in 1953, with Piggott second and his close friend Jimmy Lindley third.

Although he was still indentured to Sneyd in 1953, that was his first season as retained jockey to Jack Colling, who trained at West Ilsley in Berkshire. The partnership scored an immediate Classic victory with Viscount Astor's Ambiguity in the Oaks, in which the youngster outrode Sir Gordon Richards.

Joe Mercer: was only 15 when he rode his first winner, Eldoret at Bath, in September 1950Credit: Edward Whitaker

Jockey and trainer later teamed up with Hornbeam, runner-up in the St Leger and Ascot Gold Cup, and Rosalba, champion juvenile filly and winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Rosalba's big day at Ascot in 1959 became the most tragic of Mercer's career, for his brother Manny was killed when thrown from a filly before the start of the next race. He left the course in tears.

In that same year he had his closest finish in the Derby when riding Fidalgo into second place, beaten a length and a half by Parthia, who was ridden by his new father-in-law Harry Carr.

In February 1959 he had married Anne Carr. They had three children, Henry, Sarah and Joe jnr.

Brigadier Gerard, Bustino and Kris: the top-class horses ridden by Joe Mercer

Colling retired at the end of 1962 and was succeeded at West Ilsley Stables by Hern. The best of the new partnership's early horses were stayers Grey Of Falloden and Provoke, who won the 1965 St Leger by ten lengths in a downpour.

Mercer was leading the jockeys' championship in August 1967 when a bad fall at Folkestone caused him to miss the rest of the season.

He rode many winners for trainer Derrick Candy, notably Parbury (1967 Ascot Gold Cup), Song (champion sprinter 1969) and High Line (three Jockey Club Cups 1969-71).

After spending several winters with his family in India on busman's holidays, he endured a traumatic time after being arrested for failing to declare two diamonds at customs at Bombay airport in February 1970. He was given a three-month prison sentence for smuggling, but was released after 20 days on payment of a fine.

That year the best West Ilsley winners were Highest Hopes in the Prix Vermeille and Brigadier Gerard in the Middle Park Stakes.

The brilliant Brigadier Gerard and rider Joe Mercer win the 2,000 Guineas at NewmarketCredit: S&g

Easily the best horse Mercer ever rode, Brigadier Gerard landed a dazzling series of victories over the next two seasons. He beat Mill Reef in the 1971 2,000 Guineas and also won the Queen Elizabeth II and Champion Stakes twice each, as well as the Eclipse and King George. Roberto (at York) was the only horse to beat him in 18 races.

In June 1972 Mercer was lucky to survive when a light aircraft crashed just after taking off from Newbury racecourse, killing the pilot. He rescued the other three passengers, including trainer Bill Marshall. Two days later he was just able to partner Brigadier Gerard in the Prince of Wales's Stakes but, still bruised and badly shaken, took the next few days off.

The Brigadier's stablemate Sallust, owned by Sir Michael Sobell, won the Sussex Stakes and Prix du Moulin, and would have been champion miler in most years.

The Queen was among the prominent owners at West Ilsley and Mercer rode her filly Highclere to victory in the 1,000 Guineas and Prix de Diane in 1974. In that same year he won the St Leger on Bustino, who as a four-year-old went down fighting in a titanic duel with Grundy for the King George.

Grundy (near side) beats Bustino in the 1975 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – widely regarded as the race of the centuryCredit: Gerry Cranham

Bustino was owned by Lady Beaverbrook, whose other good horses included Boldboy and Relkino, who became Mercer's second Derby runner-up when beaten three lengths by Empery in 1976.

The day after that Derby, the racing world was stunned and largely angered by the announcement that, after 24 years, Mercer's retainer at West Ilsley would not be renewed at the end of the season and he would be replaced by Willie Carson.

He had been told the previous October about the decision made by Sir Arnold (later Lord) Weinstock, whose family owned West Ilsley Stables and who wanted a long-term jockey. Mercer was 41, Carson 33.

As a result Mercer never did ride a Derby winner, missing out on Hern's Epsom heroes Troy and Henbit, as well as the Queen's Oaks winner Dunfermline. On the other hand, he would not have become champion jockey had he stayed at West Ilsley.

He became Cecil's jockey in 1977 and was champion for the only time in 1979. At 45, he remains the oldest jockey ever to win the title for the first time.

Kris: Henry Cecil-trained champion miler was one of a host of stars ridden by Joe MercerCredit: Gerry Cranham

The Cecil stars who contributed to his annus mirabilis included champion miler Kris, two magnificent stayers in Buckskin and Le Moss, and 1,000 Guineas winner One In A Million.

In 1980 Mercer was appointed OBE for his services to racing, won the three main Cup races on Le Moss, and led all the way in the St Leger on Jim Joel's Light Cavalry.

At the end of that year three top jockeys swapped jobs. Pat Eddery left Peter Walwyn for Vincent O'Brien, replacing Piggott, who moved to Cecil, while Mercer, tired of travelling to Newmarket from his farm near Newbury, became Walwyn's jockey.

Unfortunately Walwyn's stable was in decline after the glory days of Grundy and the jockey's best winner of 1981 was, ironically, trained by Hern. With Carson injured, Hern booked Mercer for 28-1 shot Cut Above in the St Leger and the colt triumphed, with Shergar only fourth. Cut Above was owned by Sir Jakie Astor, who had owned Rosalba and Provoke.

Time Charter was the best filly or mare ridden by Mercer, but he was only a substitute jockey when the previous year's Oaks winner triumphed in the King George in 1983. She was trained by Henry Candy, the son of Song's trainer.

At the age of 51, Mercer retired from the saddle at the end of 1985, winning on his last ride – Bold Rex in the November Handicap at Doncaster. It was the 2,810th domestic victory of his career, which at the time ranked him fourth in the all-time list of winningmost jockeys in Britain behind Richards, Piggott and Doug Smith.

The remarkable facts and figures behind Joe Mercer's achievements

After a year as a jockeys' agent, he was appointed racing manager to Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum's Gainsborough Stud in 1987, managing horses owned by the eldest of the Maktoum brothers and his associates.

During Mercer's 19 years in that job, Sheikh Maktoum's stars included Cadeaux Genereux, Jet Ski Lady, Hatoof, Ezzoud, Royal Applause and Storming Home. Fantastic Light raced for him before joining Godolphin, and Balanchine ran in his colours while with Godolphin.

The best of all the horses who came under the Gainsborough Stud banner was Mana Al Maktoum's brilliant 1989 champion miler Zilzal. They also included Shamardal as a two-year-old and horses owned by Saeed Maktoum Al Maktoum (Lammtarra as a two-year-old), Hilal Salem (Sheikh Albadou), Mohamed Obaida (Sayyedati), Saeed Manana (Luso), Jaber Abdullah (Queen's Logic) and Saeed Suhail, owner of King's Best and 2003 Derby winner Kris Kin. So Mercer did win the premier Classic after all – as racing manager.

Sheikh Maktoum, the emir of Dubai, died in January 2006 and Mercer retired two months later.

Pipe-smoking Joe Mercer was a great jockey, a popular and consummate professional who never had weight problems. His classical style and perfect rhythm, especially in a driving finish, were poetry in motion and made him the ideal model for apprentices to copy.

Join Members' Club Ultimate and read tipping from the likes of Pricewise and Paul Kealy, all the big interviews and features, daily comment and news analysis – plus our Ultimate Daily newsletter. Click here to sign up.