HAD things turned out differently last week Rossa Ryan might well have been riding in the Gold Cup.
But as it went, he was at home cheering on his pal Jack Kennedy and Minella Indo as they stormed to Cheltenham glory.
Now it’s Ryan’s turn in the limelight as the 20-year-old limbers up for the start of the Flat season and the curtain-raising Lincoln Handicap with Man Of The Night.
The latest pony racing sensation grew up in Ireland with Kennedy, as well as champion apprentice Gavin Ryan and Shane Crosse, jockey to Joseph O’Brien.
“We all grew up together on the circuit, darting around at the same time and we all got on well, we were all good friends. I was the one that took the plunge to come over here,” said Ryan.
“Jack’s phone has been non-stop since! Rachael Blackmore had all the winners, but for me, Jack was the real jockey of Cheltenham.
“After falling off Envoi Allen to go and produce what he did in the last that day was exceptional and then the ride in the Gold Cup was perfect.”
Ryan always pictured a future in the jumps game, with dad David a successful trainer in that sphere.
But after a conversation with his old man, they made the call to try their luck on the Flat.
“My dad got a call from Richard Hannon and I was on the first flight over for a trial,” explained Ryan.
The roll of honour at the Hannon academy is second-to-none. Ryan Moore, Richard Hughes and Tom Marquand have all starred in the last decade after spells at the famous Herridge Stables.
And after flying through his claim, the Galway-native is making progress of his own. A maiden Royal Ascot success was the cherry on top of a great season that ended with a ride at the Breeders’ Cup as retained rider to growing bloodstock operation AMO Racing.
Ryan said: “I set out a stall last year riding for Ralph Beckett and Richard Hannon, just trying to pick up what I could.
“That developed and I managed to get a few winners, and at some of the smaller meetings some nice doubles and trebles.
“The link up with AMO Racing then gave me the nudge to move forwards, and find some nicer horses.
“Royal Ascot was a day I won’t forget. For such a bad year in everyone’s book because of the pandemic, it actually ended up being a great year for me.”
It might prove hard for the young Irishman to top last season this campaign, but he has his eye on a century of winners this calendar year. And he’s started 2021 well, with 32 at close to a 20% strike rate.
Ryan added: “You need a good horse to put you there on the map. But the goal to get 100 winners is something I could realistically do.
“From January and February we’ve been busy and these are the quietest months – if we’re busy then, then hopefully we’ll be flat out this summer.”
Ryan’s season officially starts at Doncaster today where he partners Man Of The Night in the feature Unibet Lincoln for his boss Hannon.
He also gets the leg up on three others, including in the Brocklesby and on Qaysar in the Listed Mile Stakes.
He said: “I worked Man Of The Night in the week and he went really nicely. I was really taken by his run at Wolves in the trial.
“I’d never see him as an all-weather horse, so the stiff mile will suit him here, he stays ten furlongs. He looks a million dollars.
“Forca Brasil is a big, fine colt. I think he’ll be the standout in the paddock. He’s not small like most Brocklesby horses.
“George Boughey has been very happy with him and he’s answered any questions when I’ve ridden him at home. It’s nice to go into these races with a decent chance.”
Man Of The Night is an each-way price in the Lincoln, but they’ll all have hot favourite Eastern World to beat.
Jockey James Doyle will be on board hunting his third win in the race in three years.
And for Ryan – this will make you feel old – he’s up against his role model.
He said: “Coming through at Richard’s it was hard not to look at what Ryan Moore had done.
“But as I was kind of growing up and I really started to pay attention to the Flat it was the era of Kingman and James Doyle, so I’ve always looked up to him.
“But to be honest as a young lad it was always jumping for me. I was always very tall as a young lad and with dad training Jumps horses I was always inclined to go that way.
“I wouldn’t have pictured this, but look, it’s going great and long may it continue.”
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