Nunthorpe Stakes winner Live In The Dream was one of the ‘story’ horses of the Breeders’ Cup – now his determined young rider is trying his luck in southern California, as he tells Laura King
Surgery, losing his claim, riding a G1 winner and moving to the States – it’s been quite a year for Sean Kirrane.
The young Irishman, still an apprentice, was the man in the saddle when Live In The Dream scorched to victory in the hugely prestigious Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August – at 28-1, one of the biggest upsets of the British season.
The victory propelled Kirrane to the US and rides at Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup, where the gelding, trained by Epsom-based Adam West, finished fourth after a blazing attempt to go wire-to-wire in typical fashion.
There have been plenty of one-hit wonders when it comes to G1-winning riders, but 23-year-old Kirrane has every intention of avoiding that fate. He wants more, much more, and has temporarily moved to America to find it.
“I wanted to gain some experience, and there’s not much going on in the UK in terms of racing, from November until Christmas,” says Kirrane from his rented base near Santa Anita. “The stables I ride for, mainly Tim Easterby, don’t really run much on the all-weather.
“I thought I could learn more out here, riding off the clock being the main thing,” he adds. “I’ve been riding for some good people in the mornings – George Papaprodromou, Carla Gaines, Sean McCarthy, and a couple of others.
“I also get to ride against different jockeys and it all aids your growth – you need to experience these things to improve.”
A self-funded winter away is typical of Kirrane, who has no racing background, despite being brought up just 15 minutes’ walk from Leopardstown racecourse in the Irish capital Dublin.
“My mum and dad would take me there to watch the racing,” he says. “They’ve no background in racing and no interest in it at all, really. My dad works in corporate financial advice for PWC in Dublin and my mum worked for a bank.
“I used to go and see the Dublin Christmas Festival and some of the Flat in the summer, then I progressed to riding ponies and having lessons. I got my first job in racing with Willie Mullins when I was about 15.”
Mum and dad are now more involved and jumped at the chance to watch their son on one of racing’s biggest stages: the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, where Live In The Dream was a leading fancy for the Turf Sprint. Despite something of a media circus – plus popular owners Steve and Jolene De’Lemos bringing a huge family cheering squad – Kirrane showed no trace of nerves before the race. Afterwards, however, he appeared crestfallen.
“I’m very proud of the horse and of Adam and his team,” he says. “But we went into the race as favourite and so it was disappointing to be beat. The horse didn’t really handle the track which was a lot tighter than Keeneland [where Live In the Dream finished fourth in the G2 Woodford Stakes] so he was inclined to hang which hindered his chances.
“I think we all felt a bit hard done by, on the day,” he admits, “but the horse won a Group 1 this season, which we never expected him to do.
“I’m extremely grateful he took us all there. I didn’t even know if I’d lose my claim, let alone win a Group 1 straight afterwards. I owe all that to the horse and Steve, Jolene and Adam who have been fantastic to me – I can’t thank them enough. I’m taking this opportunity of riding here off all of that, what they’ve given me.”
Despite such whirlwind recent success, things haven’t been easy for Kirrane. After his time with Mullins, he was apprenticed to Johnny Levins and then moved to England to join Richard Spencer. He also spent two winters in Dubai, learning about riding to the stopwatch.
“That’s what it takes,” says the jockey, who is joined in California by longtime girlfriend Charlotte Mulhall. “You must be ambitious enough to go and chase this regardless of your background because it’s so difficult, especially in the UK, to get rides. You have to take a leap of faith and if you’re ambitious enough and if you’ve got the talent, people will spot it, but you have to put yourself in the right place at the right time. I guess that’s why I’m here now.”
Riding in Dubai and LA might sound glamorous, but in between there have been plenty of injuries, some of them in dramatic fashion.
“I’ve dislocated my shoulders five times,” he reveals. “I did the right one winning at Chepstow on a horse of Adam’s in April 2022. It went a furlong before the line, which also happened to me once at Haydock when the horse won.
“Both times it came out because I was using my whip and you just lose the function in your arm. At Haydock Ben Curtis had to help me pull the horse up.”
This horror story is relayed phlegmatically, and it’s clear nothing much fazes Kirrane who has since had surgery on both shoulders.
“There were times when I thought it wouldn’t work out, but I don’t think quitting ever crossed my mind,” he says. “In 2021 I was doing terribly and that’s when I went to Dubai and then to Tim Easterby, who has been a massive supporter since the day I walked in the barn. Without the Easterbys it would have been a grim situation for me. They put me on some decent horses when I started there, including Copper Knight.”
In addition to the injuries, Kirrane must keep on top of his weight – no mean feat in America! “I’m in the gym a lot as I’m a bit tall [5ft 8ins],” he says. “The main weight here is 120 pounds, which is 8st 8lb. I use sweating a lot, closer to the race. Before that it’s increase exercise, lower carbohydrates, increase the water intake until 48 hours out and then dramatically decrease it.”
Not easy, but worth it?
“Being here and riding in this country, this is it,” he says emphatically. “Having success in the country I want to have success in, which is England … that’s the dream.”
‘He’s a monster!’ – Golden Sixty leads Hong Kong charge into world Top Ten
What They're Thinking: Eoin Harty – I would put down synthetic tracks instead of dirt
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires