Kevin Brouder Since riding my first winner on the track at Listowel last month I couldn't have really dreamed that things would go how they have in the last couple of weeks but long may it continue I suppose. I’m 20 now and after spending time with Christy Roche and James Nash on the Curragh I decided to move to England to work for Jonjo O’Neill earlier this year after seeing an advert that he was looking for a conditional jockey. Most lads go to England and find it tough, but I actually loved it over there and loved being away from home and Jonjo O’Neill was very good to me and gave me plenty of chances right from the start. I was there six weeks and I’d say I had at least one ride every week for him and he was really giving me a chance but then I dislocated my shoulder and that held me up. To be honest, I probably didn't give it enough time to get right but I got fed up with the injury and came home and after a while back working with Charles Byrnes a job came up with Tom Cooper and I took that up and haven't looked back since. I’m from Listowel and I just remember one day going pony racing with my brother, Gearoid, and loving the speed and saying to myself “I want this buzz” and from then all I really wanted to do is to be a jockey. I did a bit of pony racing and rode winners doing that and then spent time in different yards so it’s all about trying to keep improving now. Philip O’Connor was very good to give me the chance to ride his filly, Masons Daughter, in the bumper at Listowel and only for him I probably wouldn't be getting any chances now so a lot of thanks has to go to him. That was a nice start to get. She’s a really nice filly and won that bumper well. To get two winners last week then was fantastic. Billy De Kid is a great little horse and I was delighted to get a winner for Tom (Cooper). In fairness to Bryan Cooper he was supposed to ride him but he said to Tom go give me the chance, that I’ve been working in the yard and that was very nice of Bryan, he didn’t have to do that, so I was just happy to be able to repay everyone and get a winner on him. Then to get the call up to ride in Barry Connell’s colours… I just can’t really describe that feeling to be honest, to get the leg up off a major owner like that… I was honoured. Deputy’s Pass was a great ride to get and then for him to go and win by a head as well, like Billy De Kid did a few days earlier, it was a brilliant couple of days and hopefully that will act as a springboard now. I’m going to keep working hard in Tom’s and try to get going as best I can and get myself in to another yard one day a week if possible. Tom is very good like that, he won’t stand in my way if opportunities come about and that is a great help to somebody starting out and I’m very appreciative of that. I don’t have any targets only to get as many opportunities as I can and take them as best I can and if I can keep riding winners and pick up rides like for Barry Connell or in famous colours like those, I’ll be over the moon.
