On Sunday, August 3rd I had my biggest success since moving to Australia when Highland Blaze won the Australian Grand National Hurdle at Sandown. I have only been over here a year and a half but already, I know it’s the best decision I could have ever made. Things are going really well at the moment and hopefully, I can continue to ride in and win more big races in the coming seasons.

I got into racing through my parents, who always owned a couple of horses. When I was quite young, they had a horse named Goinforporter in training with a local Baltinglass man, John Lennon. He won a couple of point-to-points and a handicap chase in Limerick. I saw the horse race and through that connection started mucking out in John’s yard when I was 10 or 11.

That’s definitely when I got the racing bug. Jack McGeer, an ex-jockey who worked in the yard, was a big influence on me during that time. After John finished up training in 2011, Jack suggested I get a weekend/summer job in Jessica Harrington’s. I had only just started secondary school but rode out three lots that first morning and was in every chance I got after that.

After my Junior Cert I took a year out and, through Jack, I managed to get a job with Helen Markham. She had a lot of breakers and pre-trainers in her yard but also kept a few for the track. At 16, I had my first two rides under rules in bumpers for Helen. The following year, when I turned 17, I upgraded my licence so that I could ride in point-to-points. I went back to school for another year, then left again to go full-time with Jessica Harrington.

After that, I went to Aidan Fitzgerald and, later, Fran Flood. I had also ridden in a few point-to-points during those times but had no success. I then got a few pointers of my own and trained a few winners. In November 2020, I both trained and rode Nothinbuttime to win her point-to-point at Damma House. That was the first winner of my career. The following October, I had my second win when the same mare won at Tinahely.

New horizons

I gave up racing for a while after that and went to work on the buildings. In February of last year I made the decision to move to Australia. It was a bit of a spur of the moment thing, to be honest. I had become disillusioned with my career at home and was tired of the Irish weather. I just fancied a change of scenery. I had seen that a lot of Irish jockeys had been doing quite well over in Australia. I thought that I might have more opportunities out there but never for one moment did I think I would be riding in, let alone winning, races like the Grand National Hurdle.

I went straight to Warrnambool, one of the big training centres out here. I did a good bit of breaking and pre-training when I first came out. I also rode track work for a lot of small trainers. The jumps season was almost over, so I only had two rides before I started riding a bit on the flat. On my 10th ride in Australia (October 21st, 2024), I rode my first winner in a flat race for jump jockeys. Last November I was lucky enough to get in with leading trainer Shane Jackson.

Shane, who is a fellow Wicklow man, did very well as a jockey out here before turning his attention to training. Shortly after I started in the yard, Shane had two runners in the Jericho Cup, including a newcomer to his stable, Highland Blaze. He promised me that if kept my head down and worked hard, I could have the ride on that horse.

After we finished in mid-division in that flat race, Shane said that Highland Blaze would be going jumping this season and the ride was mine once I continued to graft. Highland Blaze won his maiden hurdle at the May Carnival this spring, then finished runner-up in the Australian Hurdle on his second start.

Blazing a trail

On his next run he won one of the feature races out here, the Brendan Drechsler Hurdle at Hamilton. Despite that, Highland Blaze was still only considered third favourite going into the Australian Grand National Hurdle. The Cunning Fox, who had beaten him in the Australian Hurdle, was favourite and Shane’s other runner Loft was second in the market. Sean Flanagan came over from Ireland to take the ride on that horse.

I was still quietly confident in my horse going into the race. I knew that he had good flat form in Sandown. It wasn’t the plan to make the running, as he had never done that before. Highland Blaze likes to track the leaders and come with one run. He tends to hit a flat spot in every race but, if still in contention after doing so, he finishes strongly. However, after he jumped well from the gates and no one went on I was forced to make it.

In my head, I was thinking that I would try to stack them up in behind then stretch them out from the last one up the back straight. One thing I knew for certain was that my horse would stay. As expected, he hit that flat spot after the second last and was paddling. Once we got over the last, he picked up strongly and went away to win well.

It was so good to be able to share such a great day with Shane and all the Irish that are out here. My friends and family watched the race at home. My phone was hopping for two or three days after. I couldn’t get back to everyone but really appreciated all the messages. Australia is definitely home now for the foreseeable future. My partner, Jo Mugavin, trains here in Warrnambool. I work a good bit with her.

There is just a better quality of life over here, better wages and more opportunities. Not as many lads are competing for rides, as there are back home. If anything, there is actually a shortage of riders. With lads injured and suspended, right now there are probably only about 15 active jockeys with licences. So, in a full field of runners, if you have a licence, you are almost assured of a ride.

Jordan was in conversation with John O’Riordan.