TWO 21-year-olds, who started out in different equestrian sports, recently partnered winners on the racecourse.

First to strike was Co Carlow’s Jack Foley who, having recorded his initial track success as an amateur on Rock Chica at Tipperary in October, soon after changed ranks and, as a conditional (claiming professional over jumps), bagged his first double at Punchestown last month on Chavi Artist and Grand Partner.

All three horses are trained by Tom Mullins, to whose Doninga yard Jack is attached, while he partnered one point-to-point winner last November when the Ellen Doyle-trained Acceptable Risk landed a maiden at Lingstown.

Show jumping background

Jack, who has also worked for Nicky Henderson and Donnchadh Doyle, always wanted to be a jockey, although, like his younger brothers he started in show jumping.

“Most of the ponies my brothers are competing now were novices when I rode them,” said Jack.

“We were very lucky that our parents, Ger and Sorcha, bought some nice ponies for us – and even bought them back again when it came time for the younger lads to ride.”

Jack’s first good pony was Flying Star and having since brought along Jason, Max and Ruben that 10-year-old chesnut mare will next be the mount of Harry who, at six years of age, is very much looking forward to competing.

Jack is immensely proud of Jason who, of course, won individual gold and team bronze at the 2018 Longines FEI European Junior Championships in France and, of course, gold in the five-year-old world championship at Lanaken last year.

While Jack works with Tom Mullins each day and Jason with Ger O’Neill, both riders return home to Ballyloughan outside Bagenalstown in the evenings to help out their younger siblings at the Foleys pony yard.

First winner for Browne

Former Kildare Pony Club member Max Browne rode his first winner across the water last Friday when newcomer Nina The Terrier won the 12-runner bumper.

The four-year-old Milan filly is trained by Alan King to whose Barbury Castle yard Browne is attached.

Max moved over to Britain about a year ago but, because of Covid-19, had to wait some time before he could take out a conditional licence and rode as an amateur for some months.

He partnered one winner here in Ireland, getting a spare ride one day at Naas where he claimed the bumper on the Paul Nolan-trained Latest Exhibition.

Readers will remember Max representing the Kildare Branch very successfully in Pony Club eventing and hunter trials and his association with Bravo Bruce.

That Appaloosa stallion is owned by Browne’s father Martin who, along with his wife Hilda, roared Max home when watching Friday’s race on TV.