Sherry on top after first Group 1 win
Irish jockeys and their heavily accented brogue have been swooping down thick and fast on Australian Group 1s, with Tom Sherry the latest to join the elite band on June 28.
After that unmistakable lilt from The Curragh to Tipperary was first heard at country and hurdle meetings around Victoria and South Australia in the last decade or so, the proverbial luck of the Irish has not taken long to spread to the more urbanised marquee events.
From Johnny Allen, Declan Bates, Robbie Dolan to Martin Harley just recently in the J.J. Atkins, they were often hard to understand at post-race interviews, but they certainly let their riding do the talking at Group 1 level.
Sherry's turn to enjoy the "craic" came after "an absolute peach" - as winning trainer Peter Snowden said - on third-favourite ($34) Tashi to claim the last Group 1 on the Australian racing calendar, the A$700,000 (S$584,000) Tattersall's Tiara (1,400m) at Eagle Farm.
Melbourne Cup-winning Dolan's backstory as a "The Voice" contestant before he won the race all Australian jockeys dream of was cool, but Sherry's is no less compelling.
Sherry landed in Australia in 2018 with not just his saddle and boots as baggage. He was jobless, having lost his licence in Ireland from a four-year suspension - later reduced - for a positive to cocaine.
With his heart not in race-riding any more, Sherry was happy to just turn track rider Down Under.
But, after now Hong Kong-based trainer Mark Newnham took him in, a pep talk led to a Sydney champion apprentice title in 2021, one Group 2 and a clutch of Group 3 wins - and now a Group 1 gong.
"It's been a long road, it's been tough, but moments like this make it all worthwhile," said Sherry, 26.
"Winning a Group 1 for a lad from Ireland is a very big deal for me. I came here with 80 rides, rode 100 winners in my first season in Australia, all thanks to Mark.
"The stars aligned today, and I can't thank Peter enough."
A recipient of a 50th Group 1 accolade himself, Snowden was, however, not thinking for himself.
"It's Tom's first Group 1, he rode her an absolute peach. I'm so happy for him and the mare," he said.
manyan@sph.com.sg
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