IT’S a long way from winning point-to-points in Ireland to winning one of the biggest jump races in the Australian calendar but it’s a tale that Chris McCarthy can regale first-hand.

Having been inspired to get his jockey licence after watching Johnny Allen win the Galleywood Hurdle on Big Blue in 2019 - a horse he’d done all the schooling for at Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s stable - McCarthy won Thursday’s Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool on the Irish-bred Rockstar Ronnie.

Fist-pumping across the line, and cheered back to scale as he high-fived the crowd followed by a star-jump dismount, McCarthy topped off the presentation by being chaired around the parade ring by Rockstar Ronnie’s jubilant owners.

“Chrissy, he’s a great fellow,” said fellow jock Tom Ryan. “He’s from Cork. He rode in a few point-to-points in Ireland and then came over here on a working holiday at first. He started out in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales and then got a job at Ciaron’s and that’s where I met him and we’ve been going racing together for the last two or three years now. I actually got him his first winner at Coleraine when I couldn’t ride one and he gave it a peach that day and away he went. It couldn’t happen to a nicer fellow, really.”

The win was McCarthy’s 11th across his four seasons with two-thirds of his 163 starts over the jumps. “He took to it straight away,” said Ciaron Maher. “He just had to learn a bit of race smarts and the last couple of years he’s put in the hard work, so it’s unbelievable for him to get rewarded with a win like that.”

Skelton export

An eight-year-old son of Stowaway, Rockstar Ronnie was bred by Ronnie O’Neill and was trained by Aidan Fitzgerald to win a point-to-point before being sold for £78,000 at the Goffs Yorton Sale in November 2020. Trained by Dan Skelton, the horse won five of his 11 starts before being bought by current connections with the Grand Annual in mind.

Rockstar Ronnie was delivering Ciaron Maher his seventh win in the extended three-mile chase, with the past three trained in partnership with David Eustace. Sent off second favourite, McCarthy’s mount went straight to the front at the first of 33 fences to lead all the way, often with ears pricked, as the pair completed a near faultless display and won by four lengths. Tom Ryan’s mount Police Camp finished second, ahead of another Irish-bred, Crosshill, formerly trained by Jessica Harrington.

“It is the best race, I think, so much goes into the preparation,” said an elated Ciaron Maher. “And a lot of the guys in the ownership group are really avid jumping supporters and you can see the tears of joy on their faces. They bought this horse specifically for this race, so for it to come off is unbelievable.”

First win in Australia

The win was Rockstar Ronnie’s first in Australia, this his third start since his arrival. “I can’t believe it. Words can’t describe a feeling like that,” said McCarthy. “The trust from Ciaron Maher, the owners and Declan Maher, I put my hand up, I’m only a 3kg claimer and they probably wanted someone better, but they stuck their neck out and I’m glad we could repay them.

“I led the entire way. First lap I couldn’t get him back anymore. I didn’t think I was going quick but he just wanted to go that stride quicker that I didn’t want to. The horse jumped absolutely super, full credit to the horse, he did all the work. The whole race I’ve never been so alone in all my life going around this track, but it was the best feeling in the world.

“On the highest stage, this is what it’s all about. To be part of Warrnambool Carnival, what they’ve done for us, look at the crowd following us. The cheer you get back, you can’t put words to that. It’s the best feeling in the world. I left school when I was 16 to become a jockey but it was the day Big Blue (2019) passed that post. I was elated for him winning but a small part of me said ‘why don’t I give it a crack’ and thank God I did now.”

Johnny Allen lands another for Cork

JOHNNY Allen, aboard the Astern filly Affaire A Suivre, claimed his 18th Group 1 in the Australasian Oaks over 10 furlongs at Morphettville on Saturday.

Riding for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Allen stormed five-wide on the final bend to challenge for the lead. Hitting the front in the final furlong, Affaire A Suivre had to dig deep to hold out the fast finishing Pride Of Dubai filly She’s Fit who was denied by a half-head as the winner’s stablemate, the Shalaa filly Jennilala, claimed third.

“I’d like to dedicate that to Dean Holland and his family,” said Johnny Allen. “It was three years ago down here I become close friends with him. We had to isolate through Covid together. You couldn’t have picked a better family to spend two weeks locked away with, so I really want to dedicate it to them. You could hear a few tears flowing and probably a few myself,” added Allen in reference to the minute’s silence held for Holland before the running of the Group 1 feature. “It was hard to believe, looking at the big screen and looking at all his success, to think he’s gone. It’s a hard one to take.”

Bought for NZ$75,000 from the Karaka Yearling Sale by First Light Racing, Paul Willetts and the Maher/Eustace stable, Affaire A Suivre has now won three of six, having ensured her long term value with Saturday’s win. “She is a big, scopey filly and needed a bit of time, and she has come in to her own during this preparation,” said Ciaron Maher. “I think she has a bright future and will go further, and she may end up in Queensland.”