A FLYING visit to Listowel last weekend provided me with one of my greatest thrills in racing. Since moving to Britain over 18 months ago, I haven’t had many opportunities to ride over here but on a rare return, I got to partner On The Fringe, a legend in hunter chases. The now 13-year-old, rolled back the years with a commanding performance and I was delighted with his success.
LATECOMER
Although my family are all very involved with horses, I was somewhat of a latecomer, having swam competitively in my younger years. My weekends and school holidays were spent in the pool at UL and it was not until aged 11 that I took a real interest in ponies. From that day forward, swimming took a back seat, as I devoted more and more attention to hunting and pony racing.
My older sister Ciara and myself hunted with the Stonehall Harriers and would often miss a day’s school in order to go out with the hunt. My mother was a great support during my teenage years, always on hand to take me up and down the country to hunter trials or shows.
I started riding out racehorses in Seamus Braddish’s when I was 14, then did a bit of pony racing at 15/16 and got an amateur licence at 17. Seamus was very good to me, essentially allowing me to ride any horse he had in the yard.
FIRST WINNER
Having just turned 18, I rode a winner on my very first ride under rules – De Dodger, at Gowran Park in February 2010. I went into Enda Bolger’s every Friday to ride out – a fantastic academy with the likes of J.T. (McNamara) and Nina (Carberry) there to advise. Enda was a wonderful teacher and I learned so much during my time in the yard.
After leaving Seamus Braddish, I went to work for Dessie Hughes on the Curragh. Similar to Seamus (Braddish) before him, Dessie also gave me plenty of opportunities on the track. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working for him and each day was an education.
I spent a brief eight-week period riding in Britain before coming home to work for Tom Mullins and later Alan Fleming. To be honest, I always intended returning to Britain but struggled to leave Alan and Barry (Connell). I rode a winner for them and was treated very well.
FRY’S YARD
In March 2017, I started working for Harry Fry. I have known Harry over eight years, as he is married to my sister, Ciara. In one sense, that made life a little easier, as I knew the lie of the land and wasn’t a stranger coming into the yard. Initially I rode out there very morning but now I also do some work in the office as well. It is great working with Harry and Ciara as they are very patient and give the horses plenty of time. We have some lovely young horses to look forward to, backward types who just needed the extra months to strengthen up and come to themselves.
I have had nine or 10 rides for Harry to date and won on six of those. When I came over for a few months, two to three years back, I had one ride for the stable and that didn’t go too well. I joke with Harry that it took him that long to forgive me and put me up on another one! Thankfully, it has been very different this time and we are enjoying plenty of success.
HARVEST FESTIVAL
Listowel is only 35/40 minutes from us at home, so I have been a regular at the Harvest Festival over the years. When Frank Berry approached me to ride On The Fringe last week, I felt privileged. The old horse has been a star over the years, winning at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, in the hands of champions such as J.T. and Nina. Just to be trusted with the ride on him was an honour in itself, one I was determined to make the most of.
I rode On The Fringe out on Sunday morning and he felt incredible, always tanking with me. Enda was confident that he would run well and when he says that to you, you know they won’t be too far away! The race itself worked out well for us, although it was unfortunate for the connections of the favourite, as no-one likes to see a horse get injured. Winning at Listowel meant so much to me, to do it on a horse such as On The Fringe, just made it extra special.
I have three more winners left before I lose my 7lb claim. That has been a goal of mine for some time now, so hopefully I can reach that milestone shortly. Aside from that I just want to continue riding plenty of nice horses and help Harry and Ciara build up the yard.
Aine O’Connor was in conversation with John O’Riordan