A day of fairytales at Fairyhouse
The ‘I was there moment’ that unfolded was not the one expected but it was no less captivating for that.
AP McCoy’s penultimate day riding in Ireland was a day that brought two great Irish racing dynasties — the Hughes’ and the Walshs — together for an emotional triumph. Sometimes even the great McCoy, whose mount Cantlow finished sixth, has to play second fiddle.
For trainer Sandra Hughes, Thunder And Roses’ triumph was especially poignant, coming less than six months after she took over the training licence following the death of her father Dessie, who trained Timbera to win this race in 2003.
Hughes served notice of her intent within two weeks of her dad’s passing, when Lieutenant Colonel took Grade One glory in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse.
Yesterday, the same venue brought the same result as, under an inspired Katie Walsh ride, Thunder and Roses powered to a four-and-a-quarter-length victory over Rule The World with Sizing Coal back in third.
“It’s wonderful,” Hughes said. “Winning this race is very, very special. It always has been very lucky for us here.
“Someone above was helping us out. Dad always loved this race and to do it for him is wonderful. Dad was with us all the way today.”
After Dessie’s death the family coped by turning to what they knew best — horses. It helped the grieving process.
“It was hard (after Dessie’s death) but we’re not the only people to have to do it. You just have to carry on. We had horses outside that had to be looked after and we’ve a huge team behind us and the horses kept everyone going.”
Asked what Dessie would say if he could see her now, Sandra smiled and replied: “He’d be giving me a wink.”
But for all the emotion in the winners’ enclosure yesterday, Sandra was keen to point out the industry in which she works is first and foremost a results one.
“It means everything,” she said. “In this game you need results. I’m very, very grateful to Michael and Eddie O’Leary for allowing me train him. And the same with Barry Connell and all my owners — it’s wonderful and I feel very privileged to have these horses in the yard.”
Thunder and Roses went into the race on the back of a less than ideal build-up after disappointing at Cheltenham. The seven-year-old’s trainer expected an improved display. Thunder And Roses delivered. Judgement vindicated.
“The ground was just too good for him at Cheltenham. I was as confident as you can be. He stays all day.”
The day was equally special for Katie Walsh with one of the enduring images being her father Ted roaring her on in the closing stages from the RTÉ gantry.
The decision that Katie would ride Thunder and Roses was made early. She was, Hughes argued, the perfect partner for the horse.
“I decided to book Katie shortly after the entries came out,” Sandra said. “I thought she’d suit him. She’s a very, very good rider and she’s a very good chase jockey. I knew she’d suit him and he jumped fantastically for her.
“She gets horses jumping and that’s what it’s all about in races like this. It’s a day for the girls. She’s absolutely fantastic – she has everything, she’s a great jockey.”
Walsh was understandably elated after becoming the third female jockey to win the race after Nina Carberry on Organisedconfusion in 2011 and Ann Ferris on Bentom Boy in 1984.
“It was magical,” she said. “I was here the year that Nina won it and I looked up and thought: ‘I wonder what that feels like’ and now I know.
“I’ve been lucky enough to ride in the race a couple of times but I could never have dreamed of winning it. I’ve had so many good days you’ve no idea and I really appreciate them. I’m a very lucky girl.”
That luck was on display as early as the first fence when five horses came to grief. Unlike that luckless quintet, Thunder And Roses winged the first and was away.
“I got a great jump at the first actually and landed into a lovely position which was ideal,” Katie said.
Walsh played down her role in the victory, claiming “anybody would have won on him” given how well he travelled throughout.
“He travelled everywhere. It’s a lot easier in a race like that when you’re travelling well. He was a very easy ride, anybody would have won on him today.”
That contention was excessively modest but Walsh, who nearly won the English equivalent on Seabass in 2012, admitted this was a career highlight.
“It’s right up there,” she said. “This is fairytale stuff.”
Intriguingly, the same question to the trainer produced a slightly different result.
“It is (my greatest day as a trainer,” Sandra Hughes said before adding after a perfect pause: “So far any way.”
Perhaps Sandra, Katie and Thunder and Roses can combine again at Aintree in 12 months’ time. Now, that really would be a day for the girls.
