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A Gold Cup horse with a savage pedigree
My Racing StorySponsored By Tote
I'm from a town called Randalstown in Co Antrim and I grew up with horses all my life. My dad had horses and then my sister Megan rode when she was younger. She was out in Australia for a few years and was the first female to win a jumps race at the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival aboard Lord Pierro in 2022. I followed in their footsteps - it was hunting and pony club when I was growing up.
I started off at Ian Fergusons yard; he was only 20 minutes away from me and Megan worked in the yard at the time. I started there on Saturday mornings and rode an odd horse, mucked out, and generally learnt about racing. Ian was a great man to learn from, and I even went on to do sales work for him. I saw another side of racing through that. My first point-to-point ride was at Farmacaffley in February 2022 for Jamie Sloan. Jamie worked in Ian's yard when I started there and then took over the yard. I worked alongside him.
Positive news for the Irish Breeding sector in recent days that dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz will stand at Gilltown Stud alongside his father Sea The Stars.
Daryz is the first dual winner of the race to stand at stud since Alleged in 1978. That colt was syndicated for a world record value of $16 million at the time, which would equate to over $80 million in today’s money.
By John O'Riordan - Successful in this race 12 months ago, CHALLY CHUTE(2) can make it back-to-back wins. Lightly raced in the interim, the Ross O'Sullivan-trained gelding once again showed his liking for this venue when defying topweight to land the Irish Cesarewitch on his penultimate start. While a trip to France failed to yield dividends last time, connections had expressed concerns about the gelding travelling so far from home. Back on familiar territory now, the veteran can add to his fine course record. Amelia Earhart, who has been competing at the highest level for most of the season, is worth another try at this trip. If her stamina holds out, she is a huge danger. Asakir and Abbotsford are the unexposed horses.