Wesley Joyce

I was buzzing and completely over the moon after winning the feature race at Galway on Saturday, the €60,000 Galway Shopping Centre Handicap on Crowns Major for Emmet Mullins. It was the biggest success of my career so far. I was very happy to get the ride on him and thankfully it worked out brilliantly.

I rode my first winner in Sligo on May 2 on Hands Down, who was a 50/1 shot, for Charlie Moore and Crowns Major was my sixth win from about 30 rides so I’m very happy with the opportunities I’m getting and so lucky to be apprenticed to Johnny Murtagh, learning and working hard. I have to thank him for so much.

Thanks to Emmet too for giving me the leg up on Crowns Major in such a big race and having faith in me.

We travelled really well. I thought the lads in front were going a little bit quick so I left a gap between us, judged the pace myself so we were going at the pace the horse was comfortable at.

Going down into the dip we started to pick up the leaders a bit. As we moved up the rail, the horse on my left was just dropping away a small bit, so I took the gap then and on I went.

I just gave him a little tip behind the saddle and on he went. I pushed him out and he won well, probably with a little bit in hand at the line.

I joined Johnny Murtagh out of RACE, where I learned so much as well and they were very good to me but it wouldn’t have been possible but for the Moyross Youth Academy, doing such unbelievable work. Everyone down there are great people, trying to help all the young people. They don’t get paid enough for what they are doing and it’s great to be able to maybe reward them a little bit by winning these races and doing well. I will always appreciate the opportunities I got through their work.

There’s loads of young lads in Moyross and Limerick that have plenty of ability to go on and make good lives for themselves. Hopefully they look up to me and try follow my footsteps, get out there and make a life for themselves.

I am only starting off. I’m 18 so I have a lot to learn yet and will just focus on working hard and listening to Johnny and the rest of the team. Hopefully I will keep getting the opportunities and keep learning and keep getting better, and maybe there will be more lads from Moyross joining me in the weigh room in the years ahead.