PAT HEALY: Pat reflects on the news that Frankie is heading to Listowel, 100 Group 1 wins for Aidan and Ryan plus a pat on the back for young Sam Coen.
Frankie & Listowel
We’re obviously over the moon that Frankie will be riding at the Harvest Festival in Listowel. It’s the first time he’ll be riding at the track and it’s something I’ve been trying for years, so it’s a real coup that we’ve been able to get him over to ride. It’s going to be a brilliant day with it being an all Flat card as well as our first student day and all at Listowel are really looking forward to welcoming him.
He also tells me it’s his mother’s birthday on the day he’s riding with us, so hopefully that will give him a bit of added motivation. It wouldn’t be a bad day to ride a winner, would it?!
He’s the biggest name in racing and he’s one of few in the sport who gets bums on seats. Ticket sales have been solid and I’m confident this news will give it another spurt which is just fantastic.
Listowel is the seventh Irish racetrack that Frankie has ridden at and I’ve always said to him that his jigsaw of racetracks wouldn’t be complete without him riding at Listowel. He told me that the next time Kerry win the All Ireland, I’ll come over to Listowel, so it’s a great credit to him that he’s kept his word.
It will be a very proud day for all of us.
Aidan O’Brien & Ryan Moore
You have to take your hat off to Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore for having their 100th Group 1 winner with Blackbeard last weekend. They are a dream duo and they deserve all of the accolades because to have been successful as they have, for as long as they have, is no mean feat.
Ryan day in, day out is probably the world’s best jockey and it’s unsurprising that he’s riding for someone as good as Aidan. I don’t doubt they’ll be breaking plenty more records in the not-too-distant future.
Sam Coen
Young Sam Coen deserves a huge pat on the back for showing the initiative he did in writing a letter to John Magnier. They are trying to raise money for the pony racing game and it’s brilliant that John has coughed up a few quid to help out.
