His first major victories came in the 1984 July Cup and Sussex Stakes on the brilliant Chief Singer, and his first Classic winner came in the 1000 Guineas on Midway Lady two years later. He followed up in the Oaks on the same filly.
Offered a retainer by Luca Cumani in 1987, Cochrane recorded 111 winners, finishing third in the title race behind Steve Cauthen and Pat Eddery.
He won the Derby on Kahyasi for Cumani in 1988 and enjoyed his best years numerically in 1988 and 1989 when he rode 120 winners in each campaign.
He joined Guy Harwood as stable jockey in 1990 and won the July Cup on Polish Patriot for the Pulborough trainer. Riding as a freelance in latter seasons Cochrane has established himself as a shrewd tactician and one of the strongest jockeys in a finish.
Recent big-race wins include the 1998 Caulfield Cup in Australia on Taufan's Melody and last season's French 1000 Guineas on Valentine Waltz.
He was arrested in January, 1999 in connection with an investigation into doping and race-fixing but was cleared of any involvement in the case two months later.
Cochrane, who took to arriving at meetings on a motorbike prior to his setbacks this summer, has not decided on future career plans.
However, he was quick to add: "I'm not the cleverest man in the world but I'm not so stupid that I want to be a trainer!"
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