Disillusioned jockeys try their luck Down Under

RACING NEWS ROUND-UP:IRISH JOCKEYS feeling the economic pinch at home are increasingly trying their luck in Australia, where a resurgence in jump racing has resulted in some rare opportunities for those willing to travel.

A couple of Irish riders, including Cheltenham festival winner Tom Ryan, are already in Australia and will soon be joined by well-known names including the veteran jockey Ken Whelan.

The popular 39-year-old rider, a Cheltenham festival winner himself in the 1996 Kim Muir Chase and a multiple winner of Punchestown’s La Touche Cup, has become disillusioned with the lack of winning opportunities in Ireland and will join jockeys like Johnny Allen, Eddie Power and Stephen Gray in leaving for Australia later this month.

“It’s a sign of the times. Rides have dried up and I’m not the only one. There are lots in the same boat. If I wasn’t a married man with two kids, I would have been gone ages ago,” Whelan said yesterday. “I love racing and I love riding but it’s the way the game is gone. The same five or six lads are riding all the winners. If a trainer has an owner paying bills and he wants someone else to ride his horse then he can’t argue. It’s hard to argue with fashion,” he added.

Australian jump racing takes place in the states of Victoria and South Australia, although the sport was under threat last year due to animal rights concerns.

However, funding for racing has received a big boost and there is a shortage of riders due to retirements and injuries. The Australian authorities are also keen to improve riding standards over jumps.

Whelan will be based at Mornington racetrack near Melbourne and while his colleagues have signed six-month contracts, Whelan has got permission to return home in May for his son’s First Communion before returning to work until September.

“They are painting a great picture over there. It looks great. They say there’s no recession and they’re promising plenty of rides,” he said.

“Here all I’m doing is driving around the country riding out for lads. I’m an easy-going fella but it got to the stage where I wasn’t enjoying it anymore and I was considering giving up.

“In Australia, they tell me there will be a chance to do some promotional and media work as well. You wouldn’t know what might come of it. It’s a big country, with lots of doors, so if it works out we might consider staying,” Whelan added.

There has been a history in recent decades of Irish and Australian jockeys riding in challenge competitions and Seán Lynch, manager of the Ireland team on their annual trips, has been instrumental in organising the current moves.

“The new Minister for Sport (Mark Arbib) has a keen interest in racing. Prize money has improved and they really want to improve standards. There are 104 jump races in their season which ends on September 19, and minimum prize money in Victoria is $40,000 (€30,000), while it is $30,000 (€22,000) in South Australia,” Lynch said.

“Riding fees also work out more than here at A$250 (€185) in Victoria and A$230 (€170) in South Australia while they will get A$600 (€440) to A$800 (€590) a week for riding out early in the morning, which is finished by 9.30,” he added.