'It's an important one' - relief for Shoemark as he claims first Group 1 as Gosdens' stable jockey on Friendly Soul in Opera

Kieran Shoemark's wait for a first Group 1 winner as stable jockey to John and Thady Gosden came to an end as he delivered Friendly Soul for a hard-fought victory in the Prix de l'Opera.

High-profile defeats on Inspiral and Emily Upjohn had led to criticism of Frankie Dettori's successor this term, but the rider said there was no pressure from inside the Clarehaven ranks as he delivered a cool performance to gain the landmark.

Friendly Soul was a one-time Oaks fancy before disappointing in the Musidora at York in May, but several months later she was lowering the colours of Classic winners Sparkling Plenty and Fallen Angel on her first try at the elite level. 

Shoemark hit the front two furlongs out on the daughter of Kingman, who stayed on resolutely as stablemate Running Lion chased her home to take second spot.

Not only will this win silence Shoemark's critics, it was also the jockey's first victory in more than two weeks, having gone 21 rides without success.

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"It's a great way to top off the season," Shoemark said. "I was really in search of that Group 1 victory this year and I'm delighted I've managed to have got it, especially for John and Thady as well as George Strawbridge.

"I've been very fortunate to have John and Thady on my side the whole time, and the owners. In-house it's been nothing but support and that's been extremely important. We've possibly lacked a little bit of depth this year, but we've got exciting two-year-olds for next year.

John Gosden and Kieran Shoemark after the Prix de l'OperaCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Everyone is entitled to have a bad year and John and Thady have had two Group 1 winners so it's certainly not that. I'm just thrilled, this is where you want to be as a jockey. It was an important one."

The old and new Gosden stable jockeys could be set to clash in California next month with the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf still an option for Friendly Soul. She was cut to 5-1 (from 12) by William Hill for that target, with only Arc winner Bluestocking now shorter in the market.

"There's every possibility and George [Strawbridge] lives in America," Gosden said when asked about a Breeders' Cup bid. "It's one-mile three furlongs and Kieran felt that a mile and a quarter was very much the top end of her range. That was in Deauville, but around three bends at Del Mar it's a bit like a bull ring so anything is possible."

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