STEFANO CHERCHI, the talented, popular, affable and ever so likeable young Sardinian jockey, who died tragically a year ago in Australia, aged just 23, was remembered today in a lovely get-together of Solario Racing owners at Newmarket.
Stefano Cherchi
Stefano, who was was apprenticed to Amy Murphy at Southgate Stables, went out to Australia during the break between the 2023 and 2024 turf flat seasons to gain international experence and further his career. He rode two winners out there but on 20 March in Canberra, his mount Hasima fell and Stefano suffered what were to be life-ending injuries and he died on April 3rd 2024.
Many of the Solario Racing owners wanted to quietly remember Stefano and as one of them was unable to make Thursday 3rd April, we met up the following day.
Stefano and Amy
It was a beautifully sunny, warm morning at Newmarket and the first time owners had been to the stables since Lemos De Souza had taken over from Amy.
After seeing Emerald Downs, Sharp Distinction and the unnamed 2yo colt by Victor Ludorum on the gallops, we had pastries and a glass of fizz and toasted Stefano. Afterwards, we went out to see the mural of Stefano which had been done last year at Amy’s Open Day, a few days after Stefano’s death.
The artwork is a lovely and totally fitting tribute to Stefano, a cheeky caricature of the young Stefano.
Solario Racing Owners with “Stefano”
We then adjourned to Stefano’s (and Solario Racing’s!) favourite restaurant in Newmarket, the Italian, Unico. Assistant Trainer, Jade Joyce had said to me before we went to the restaurant that Stefano loved a particular shot and that it would be nice to have that shot in his memory. The only problem was she wasn’t sure which one it was!
However, on talking to the lovely welcoming staff at Unico and after deliberating whether it was the Sardianian liquor, Mirto or the Italian brandy, Grappa, we decided on the latter.
So a few of us duly imbibed a Grappa! Apparently, Jade has confirmed subsequently that Stefano’s tipple was indeed…Grappa!
Stefano…Amy, Lemos, Jade, stable staff, Solario Racing and all owners who knew you…we all miss you terribly but hope you would have approved of our Newmarket get-together in your memory…x
