Top USA jockeys swap roles at Royal Ascot

Joel Rosario punches the air in triumph on Animal Kingdom after their Dubai World Cup victory, but he will be switching roles with John Velazquez at the Royal Meeting. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

The situation could scarcely be more strange.

Joel Rosario, who partnered the brilliant Animal Kingdom to victory in the Dubai World Cup, was "jocked off" the horse a few weeks ago for his upcoming run in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday week by the horse’s owners, Team Valour, in favour of John Velazquez, who has ridden two winners at Ascot before.

Those two winners came in 2009 when he partnered two Wesley Ward-trained two-year-olds to victory.

Now it’s a case of role-reversal with Rosario flying in to partner up to five Ward two-year-olds while Velazquez has the plum ride on the Graham Motion-trained Animal Kingdom.

Velazquez has ridden Animal Kingdom several times before, including his brilliant Kentucky Derby victory in 2011, so one can understand the decision.

Rosario said: "I’d love to ride him again, but the owner makes the decisions and I respect that.

"It won’t bother me.

"Animal Kingdom is a really good horse, he showed his class in Dubai and he really has the heart to run a big race."

On riding at Royal Ascot, the 28-year-old, whose mounts have earned almost $10m in prize money this year alone, said: "I’ve never been to England and am very happy to have the chance to come.

"I’ve watched Royal Ascot on TV and it seems like it’s very beautiful there. It’s important racing.

"It’s been some year for me and now coming to Ascot is going to be a really special experience for me, my career and my four kids."