Precocious Cooper was no couch potato
For Tommy and Geraldine Cooper, the past ten days have been hectic as they found their son Bryan, 21, in the glare of the world’s racing media after he succeeded Davy Russell as number one jockey at the powerful Gigginstown empire of Michael O’Leary.
But, such was Bryan’s precociousness from an early age they knew that particular day would come sooner rather than later.
Cooper was destined for the big time from the age of 11, when he broke his parents’ hearts by insisting that he go to Cheltenham to lead Total Enjoyment around.
At 15, he quit school after his Junior Cert, and last summer they fretted as he recovered from breaking his femur.
Though he received great support from his school after he left, one teacher had told him: “Because you don’t concentrate on your studies, you will never do anything with your life.”
But the talent he displayed on the back of his mom’s couch, at two, where he showed style, balance and poise, the good habits he picked up when show jumping and the work ethic he displayed in his dad’s yard from a young age, landed him one of the top jobs in national hunt racing.
And many respected judges believe his genius in the saddle will one day see him crowned champion jockey.
So, how did the baby-faced assassin nail down the prestigious job?
“It’s a serious job to get, at a very young age,” says his father. “He has always displayed a lot of talent, ever since he was a kid, but it’s difficult to comprehend how far he has progressed so quickly.
“This would not have happened without the guiding hand of Dessie Hughes, who has nurtured Bryan into a top-class jockey, since he joined his stable four years ago.
“Bryan rode several horses for Gigginstown over the past couple of years, mostly second strings, and achieved a lot of success.”
Cooper is not sure why his son got the call or why it all happened so suddenly but he does put forward a few theories.
“There are the stories flying around about Michael O’Leary wanting to snap up Bryan before someone else did but Bryan has not been told anything like that,” he said.“It came as a shock because Davy Russell was only told while drinking a cup of tea between races on the Tuesday. The following day Bryan rode a double in Fairyhouse, one of which was owned by Mr. O’Leary.
“He was not approached on New Year’s Day but got a call the following morning to meet Mr. O’Leary on Friday morning in his offices at Dublin airport.
“It was an interview, I suppose, where Michael gave an indication of what he was offering and Bryan had certain issues he wanted addressed, and they left it at that.
“Later on Friday afternoon, he got the phone call, saying the job was his, if he wanted it, and Bryan accepted.
“However, it was not as easy a decision as many are portraying as Bryan was very conscious of the position he held with Dessie Hughes which, in its own right, was a high-profile job, anyway.
“He was also conscious of the fact this was a mid-season move and he did not want to leave Dessie in a bind.
“Bryan and I had a chat and came to conclusion this job was a runner provided he would be available to ride for Dessie when Gigginstown did not want him.
“Geraldine and I wanted Bryan to remain with Dessie, riding out and doing the same routine, because we are very much aware of what happens to young sports people when they reach the top or get a high-profile job.
“There are lots of pitfalls so, while he will not be riding out every morning, we got a clause in the contract that Bryan would remain at Dessie’s, which would be his base, and he would travel out to other stables to ride out for Gigginstown.
“We had a good chat with Dessie and, while he is very disappointed at losing Bryan, he will still be riding the majority of his horses.
“The only other bone of contention was a rumour Ruby Walsh might ride the Gigginstown horses in Willie Mullins’ yard.
“But, we were insisting that Bryan would ride all the horses and, again, Mr. O’Leary had no problem with that.”
Cooper snr. cannot speak highly enough of Hughes: “Bryan went to Dessie when he was 17 and there were four or five jockeys ahead of him.
“We thought ‘what in the name of God were we doing?’ as he had no chance. But, within a year and half he was stable jockey and conditional champion in his first full season.
“When Dessie was sick last summer, Bryan was placing his horses in races, etcetera, and it remains a close relationship”
Gigginstown’s new number one is bred to be a champion. His grandfather, Des, had a permit, and a grand uncle, Brian, was a successful NH jockey, in addition to a first cousin of Tommy’s, Louise Cooper, who was a top lady rider before that sphere became fashionable.
But, did dad Tommy ever really think when Bryan was riding a finish at the back of the couch, at two years of age, while watching the racing on television, or when he was riding the pet pony, Snowy, around the yard at eight, or show jumping from 10 to 14, or during the year and half he spent on the flapper circuit, that he would now be riding some of the top horses in the country for one of the leading owners?
“Not really,” admits the proud father, “but now all we want for Bryan is that he stays safe, keeps his feet on the ground and rides as many winners as he can,
“He is very level-headed, is a good communicator both with the media and owners and maybe that is what swung this job for him.”
The moral of the story? The next time your youngster is riding a finish on your couch — don’t despair — he might be another Bryan Cooper in the making!
