Tom Queally

Tom Queally (born 8 October 1984) is an Irish flat racing jockey based in Britain. He rode Frankel in his unbeaten 14-race career.

Background Born Thomas P. Queally in Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland, Queally is the son of trainer Declan Queally. He was a pony racing champion before being apprenticed to trainer Pat Flynn. He recorded his first win as a jockey on Larifaari at Clonmel aged 15 on 13 April 2000 and was crowned Irish champion apprentice just days after his sixteenth birthday later that season. Queally only rode 11 winners that season and decided to move to England in search of opportunities. That year he won a further four Group 1 races, three of them for Cecil on Twice Over and Midday, who also finished a close second in the Epsom Oaks.

On 4 April 2011, Frankel was sent off as odds-on favourite in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. He made all to win by six lengths, the widest margin of victory since Tudor Minstrel in 1947. Speaking after the race, Queally said "The one thing this horse does is gallop – I didn't want to disappoint him, I wanted him to do what he enjoys and he showed them". It was Queally's first (and, as of 2023, only) Classic win. The previous year he had missed out on victory in the 1,000 Guineas when his filly 66-1 chance Jacqueline Quest, trained by Cecil, was first past the post by a nose but was relegated to second place after a stewards' inquiry found that she had drifted and interfered with favourite Special Duty.

Plaudits for Queally's tactics at Newmarket turned to criticism after Frankel's next start at Ascot, in the St James's Palace Stakes. Despite initially settling behind a strong pace set by his stablemate Rerouted, Queally sent Frankel to the lead well before the home turn and only just hung on to win. Both trainer and jockey professed their surprise publicly at the criticism, with Queally dismissing claims the horse was tiring due to the unusual race tactics:"He was starting to get a little fed up as he just does it so easily. He's growing up all the time." After the controversial tactics that led to the narrow victory at Ascot, Frankel was ridden to a five-length victory from the front in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. After the race Queally said, referring to the criticism after his ride at Ascot, "It's the price you pay for riding a horse like this but I'll take that on happily". Further Group 1 victories for Queally and Cecil followed (Timepiece in the Falmouth Stakes and the evergreen Midday winning a third Nassau Stakes at Goodwood); while Frankel went on to an easy win in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (British Champion Mile) at the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Day. Queally finished 2011 with 100 winners and over £2,500,000 in prize-money.

Personal life Queally is engaged to Sky Sports presenter Hayley Moore, daughter of trainer Gary Moore.

Major wins Great Britain British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes – (1) Trick or Treat (2007) Diamond Jubilee Stakes – (2) Art Connoisseur (2009), The Tin Man (2017) July Cup – (1) Fleeting Spirit (2009) Nassau Stakes – (3) – Midday (2009, 2010, 2011) Champion Stakes – (3) Twice Over (2009, 2010), Frankel (2012) Eclipse Stakes – (1) Twice Over (2010) Yorkshire Oaks – (1) Midday (2010) Dewhurst Stakes – (1) Frankel (2010) 2,000 Guineas – (1) Frankel (2011) St. James's Palace Stakes – (1) Frankel (2011) Falmouth Stakes – (1) Timepiece (2011) Sussex Stakes – (2) Frankel (2011, 2012) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – (1) Frankel (2011) Lockinge Stakes – (1) Frankel (2012) Queen Anne Stakes – (1) Frankel (2012) International Stakes – (1) Frankel (2012) British Champions Sprint Stakes – (1) The Tin Man (2016)

France Prix Vermeille – (1) Midday (2010)

Ireland Matron Stakes – (1) Chachamaidee (2012)

United States Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf – (1) Midday (2009)