Julian Pietropaolo

I'm from Ballynoe, Co Cork and I rode plenty of ponies when I was younger. I had plenty of success pony racing and partnered 50 winners. I did two full seasons pony racing and plenty of lads that I rode winners for are now training on the track like Maurice Ahern and Aidan Melia, and they are doing very well at the moment which is great to see. I was champion jockey in Dingle in 2024, and I rode five winners for Maurice then. It was then nice to ride winners for him on the track. I rode a nice winner for him in Galway (Perry Mason, last October) and I rode a winner on one of the first days at the Curragh this season (Perry Mason, March).

Since I was young, I wanted to be a jockey, moreso a jump jockey. My idol would have been Davy Russell. I'm very light at the moment, but I wouldn't mind going over a jump. I don't think my weight is going to go anytime soon, so I won't have to worry about it. If I did get heavy, I'd have no problem going over a fence. My cousins had point-to-pointers and I really got into racing through them. Donie Murphy was my first National Hunt yard. He had a few point-to-pointers and horses for the track, and he does plenty of young horses for the sales as well. I rode out and went racing with Donie. He was good and taught me the bones of racing, he taught me a lot. I spent two seasons with Donie and then I did a summer in Joseph O'Brien's. That was actually through my cousin Dave O'Connell who is a farrier in Wexford. To be fair to him, he shows good interest in my career. Whenever I need any advice, I ring him and he advised me to go to Joseph's as I was light.

Joseph's is a great place to work with plenty of good people. Everyone helps each other in the yard - Dylan Browne McMonagle and Joey Sheridan are very good to the younger staff in the yard. You are learning from the best. Obviously, Dylan was champion jockey last season, while Joey rode his first Royal Ascot winner (Kizlyar) last month and I was delighted for him. Declan McDonogh is a great help in there as well. Joseph points us in the right direction and gives us any advice we need. He has gone through it himself and knows what it takes to get to that kind of level. Joseph is very good to us apprentices and gives us plenty of chances.

I rode my first winner on Art Of Unity at Bellewstown in October 2024 for Muredach Kelly and it was absolutely great. I thought the day would never come, to be honest. It was only my seventh ride, though. I actually met Muredach below in Dingle Races. We were on the beach with the ponies on the Sunday morning and he was down there as well. He came down with us, and he said to me 'I'll give you your first winner'. He did it not long after. It was absolutely great when I had the winner for him. Then two and a half weeks later, I rode a premier handicap winner on Arch Enemy at Leopardstown for Paddy Magee. I got a lovely run up the inside, and I got a late gap, and she stayed on very well. I couldn't believe it, I was actually speechless. She's a great mare and no better man training her. I'd say the double I rode in Punchestown last September is up there with my premier handicap winner. That double included my first winner for Joseph (Kashel Spring), and it was a great day.

I'm still apprenticed to Joseph and am in there every day. My agent Kevin O'Ryan is top-class. He has so many top jockeys on his books and, to be fair, if he needs to tell you something, he won't hesitate. It is up to yourself then if you want to improve. He's very straightforward and that's what I like about him the most. I'm happy enough with how things are going. I'm after riding four winners this season and hopefully we will be able to finish out the season strongly - keep the head down and whatever pops up, we'll take it in our stride. Ireland is very competitive for jockeys. You kind of have to be riding every day and you want your name to be down when declarations come out. There are so many good jockeys here and you've got to keep on trying to impress and improve.

I do well with trainer Kevin Smith. He's another man that has been very good to me. I had my first ride for him in Dundalk, and it was a winner actually - Marian's Gal (November 2025). He has supported me ever since. Another trainer that's very good to me is Kevin Coleman who gave me plenty of rides and winners last season. Muredach Kelly has been top-class to me. I always ring him after my rides and we go through them.

Winners are what drives me. You want to be better than everyone else. There is only one way you can do that and that is to work hard. We have a simulator in Joseph's, so I try and do a good bit on that. I'm on a 7lb claim at the minute. Obviously, riding out the claim is something that everyone wants to do. I won't panic and I'll just take everything as it comes. The apprentice title would be in the back of your head, but it is not my main focus - my main focus is getting as many rides and winners as I can. I'm still young and have a lot to learn and I'm committed to improving and making the most out of every opportunity. Everyone is very welcoming and helpful in the Irish racing industry. Keep your head down, keep grafting and keep working hard, and you'll get what you want.

Julian was in conversation with Michael Graham.

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About Michael Graham

Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.

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