Galway jockey scoops Europe's biggest race as Bluestocking triumphs at Longchamp
Ryan is the first Irish jockey to win the race since Mick Kinane rode Sea the Stars to victory in 2019
Galway jockey Ross Ryan enjoyed the biggest of his career today as he steered Bluestocking to glory in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
Ryan is the first Irish jockey to win Europe's biggest race since Mick Kinane rode Sea the Stars to victory in 2019.
Bluestocking had to be supplemented for $120,000 for the race by her connections, trainer Ralph Beckett and owner Juddmonte House Farms, but they were repaid handsomely.
Read More:Aidan O'Brien scoops huge prize money as he enjoys dream day at Longchamp
Read More: Aidan O'Brien gives update on City of Troy ahead of Breeders' Cup tilt
Ryan enjoyed a trouble-free passage in the slipstream of Los Angeles before holding off the advancing Aventure to land the €5,000,000 race.
Los Angeles was third for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, with favourite Sosie fourth for Andre Fabre.
Tuam man Ryan, 24, said after the race: “I know everyone overlooked her, but on form she had been at the top table and done it all. She just proved she’s something else.
“I can’t really believe it, this filly has been something else to my career.
“My family are here, they all came over and it’s very surreal."
Ryan grew up in Ballinderry, where his father David is a national hunt trainer. He was only 16 when he rode his first winner on a racecourse, partnering the Dot Love-trained Solar Heat to win at Dundalk.
He then took the bold leap to join Richard Hannon's yard in England to work as an apprentice jockey.
Ryan came second in the British apprentice jockeys' championship in 2018 before riding his first group winner the following year in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood.
Since then, Ryan's career has continued to go from strength to strength. The Galway jockey rode his first Group 1 winner when steering Shaquille to win the July Cup last summer.
Last year he rode over 200 winners in Britain, but winning the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is easily his career highlight.
For Bluestocking's trainer, Beckett, it is also the biggest win of his racing lifetime, having trained Westover to come second in the race 12 months ago.
He told ITV: "It's a tribute to her constitution more than anything else, it's extraordinary to have a horse to have danced all the dances since May and come back and do that. She is an extraordinary beast.
"The draw helped and it was a terrific ride from Rossa, everything went to plan and he was able to pull it off. What a day.
“This is our best ever day, it has to be. I’ve been lucky enough to win a couple of Oaks but this is our best day, for sure."
Barry Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte, said: “It’s absolutely amazing, the job Ralph has done with this filly all year has been unreal. It’s unbelievable, what a filly.
“That’s Juddmonte’s seventh winner in the race, I think that makes them the winning-most owner of all time so that’s a special record.
“It’s a brilliant day. She had a perfect trip the whole way round, Rossa had it all planned in his head. He was going to be handy, he had a lovely trip the whole way and at the top of the straight I thought it was going to take a good one to beat her.”
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
