Young Galway jockey on cloud nine after success at Royal Ascot

IT proved a red-letter day for Galway jockey Rossa Ryan at the most prestigious UK flat meeting of the season last Thursday.

Royal Ascot may have been held behind closed doors due to Covid-19, but the empty stands didn’t detract from the Tuam teenager’s achievement at the Berkshire track.

Partnering Highland Chief in the opening Golden Gates Handicap on the card, the 19-year-old came from an unpromising position on the 20/1 chance in pulling off a surprise win for the Clive Cox stable.

Off the pace on the turn into the home straight and forced to come wide, Ryan made relentless ground from the two-furlong mark before surging past market leader Global Storm on the climb to the line.

And to round off a fantastic 48 hours for the Galway jockey, he pulled off a notable treble – including 16/1 chance Al Mutathar – at Newmarket last Saturday.

Ryan was naturally delighted post-race to have achieved a maiden Royal Ascot victory at such a tender age. “It has not really sunk in yet. I am a bit shocked that it has happened.

“I cannot thank everyone enough who has supported me to get here today. I was a long way back on Highland Chief, but the plan going out was to just get this lad to relax, travel and ride him to come home.

“Highland Chief travelled lovely and he was picking up turning in. When I looked up, we were getting to the two-furlong pole and I thought I was going to miss the boat.

“However, the two furlongs at Royal Ascot are the longest two furlongs anywhere and he showed that today. It is lovely, loose ground and Highland Chief was able to quicken.”

Son of Galway trainer David Ryan, Rossa is a former champion pony rider, partnering 150 winners on the circuit before taking out his apprentice licence.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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