TO see Mamaslittlestar carry my colours to success at Wexford last Friday week was a special moment. As a cheap purchase, I had limited expectations, hoping that if I was lucky, she might reach the frame in a point-to-point. For the daughter of Stowaway to not just win between the flags but then do likewise under rules, has been beyond my wildest dreams. Whatever she does from here will be a bonus and long term she will always have a home with us.

I developed an interest in horses through my uncle, George Young. He trained point-to-pointers, as well as a few for the track, from a yard just a couple of miles from us. Having learned to ride as a kid, I gave it up for a time before returning to the saddle in my late teens.

My younger brother Stephen, cousin Lynsey Hanna and I, spent our formative years up and down to the Young stables. Stephen has since gone on to have a successful career as a jockey in England, with the highlight being a Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes win on Tout Seul.

Meantime, Lynsey, worked for Ed Dunlop, where she was fortunate enough to look after the superstar filly Snow Fairy. My career in racing took a different turn, leading me on a path towards journalism.

Having answered a newspaper advert , I was on my way down south to take up a role as trainee/assistant to Michael Clower in the Sporting Life. The latter was recognised as one of the leading trade papers at the time, while my new boss was highly respected in the press room.

He gave me a fantastic grounding in journalism, teaching me as I went along. Bearing in mind I had no specific qualifications, I owe Michael a lot for giving me those early opportunities.

I started out writing a few ‘spotlights’ before moving on to longer articles and so on. When the Sporting Life stopped printing in 1998, I went to work for ireland.com who were in the process of setting up irishracing.com. A couple of years after, ireland.com offered redundancies and I took the opportunity to do some travelling.

I used the time to see some of the world and reconnect with horses - getting employment firstly as a work rider in Australia and latterly in Britain with trainer Eric Wheeler.

Press Association

On returning home, I joined up with Irish Racing Services, remaining in the job when they were subsequently taken over by the Press Association. We currently have a strong on-course presence, providing news stories, form analysis, post-race quotes, comments in running and results to various streams.

I have always been fascinated by training but am realistic enough to accept that I have neither the financial wherewithal nor experience to do so.

However, it had long been my intention to buy a cheap horse to run in point-to-points, something that came to fruition in May 2018. Having purchased Mamaslittlestar at the Tattersalls Store Sale, I took out a handler’s licence in order to campaign her between the flags.

I lodged ‘Star’ in Ballinagappa Livery Stables near my home in Clane and the owner, Joan Doyle, a former amateur rider herself, has been a great help to me. Tom Taaffe, who I used to ride out for, and Denis Cullen, who rode for my uncle George in points, were most accommodating when it came to organising pieces of work.

Mares’ maiden

Dermot McLoughlin also deserves a mention, as anytime I went away to Lee Valley Gallops, he allowed me school alongside his own horses. In November 2019, I trained Mamaslittlestar to win her mares’ maiden at Damma House point-to-point. Last year proved to be somewhat of a write off, with the mare just struggling on tacky winter ground.

However, the turning point came in January, when my farrier Ian (Teddy) Worrell, suggested I send Mamaslittlestar to James Fahey for a track campaign.

Following three promising runs in maiden hurdles, Mamaslittlestar won her first race under rules at Wexford last week. Although I couldn’t be present due to ongoing covid restrictions, it was an incredible experience to watch her pass the post first in my silks.

We will try to find a handicap hurdle for her in a few weeks and she how she goes from there.

Down the line, I am looking forward to running her over fences, as she has already shown that she can jump. As the only horse I have in training, she is as much a family pet as anything else, so when she eventually retires, I’d hope to breed from her.

If any of her offspring end up giving us even half as much enjoyment she has, then I will be very happy.

Gary Carson was in conversation with John O’Riordan