RACING: BRIAN O'CONNORtalks to Dungarvan-born Tom Queally, who has made the most of his opportunities since leaving Ireland due to lack of opportunities
IT IS almost four years since Tom Queally last rode a winner in Ireland but Twice Over could provide the Co Waterford jockey with a triumphant homecoming in today’s Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
Henry Cecil’s stalwart performer appears to be the principal danger to the massed ranks of Ballydoyle stars that otherwise dominate the €750,000 Group One highlight.
Queally (26) is in no doubt about Twice Over’s place in his affections, describing him as a “special horse,” and equally appreciates the irony that the reason he gets to ride such an animal in Ireland’s top-rated race at all is because he left Ireland.
The precocious youngster, a champion apprentice at 15, left the country before he was 20, just another talented jockey forced to Britain on the back of a lack of opportunities here.
That was in 2004, the year he added an apprentice title in Britain to a list of accomplishments that even then included a Group Three Ballysax victory over today’s course and distance on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Balestrini.
However, it is in the last two years that perseverance has paid off with a vengeance in a series of Group One victories, principally for Cecil who has been enjoying a rejuvenation in an already legendary career.
They include a Champion Stakes and Eclipse on Twice Over as well as a Breeders’ Cup on Midday. There have been reverses too, such as the demotion of Jacqueline Quest, who is a non-runner in today’s Matron Stakes, in this year’s 1,000 Guineas, but Queally’s rise through the ranks in Britain has been as impressive as it has been inexorable.
Those who have followed the Irishman’s career, however, have not been surprised. There was always something a little different about Queally, a cool intelligence allied to innate horsemanship and an intense focus.
Not many apprentice champions interrupt their career-path to go back to school but that’s what Queally did at 16, prompting a dispute with the Co Waterford trainer Pat Flynn over his indentures that was only resolved when the Turf Club intervened and shortened his apprenticeship by a year.
Queally resumed riding with O’Brien but his place in the pecking order at Ballydoyle didn’t enthuse an ambitious young man in a hurry.
“I wouldn’t have had a hope of two rides like this if I was still based in Ireland. It’s a shut-up-shop and very hard to get a chance,” he says.
“I was okay. Aidan was good to me and I was very light for a long time. I’ve often said if I’d had another couple of winners that season I’d probably still be there.
“But it had got so bad, I couldn’t take it anymore.”
After moving to Newmarket Queally came under the wing of the legendary gambler Barney Curley, no mean judge of young riding talent, and that helped initially as the newcomer flogged around the gaffs making his name.
What the gaffs provided was an opportunity and Queally made the most of them so that when the ride on Art Connoisseur came available in last year’s Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot he was booked by Michael Bell.
That Group One was followed up by a July Cup victory on Fleeting Spirit before Midday landed a Nassau and a Breeders’ Cup, either side of Twice Over’s Champion Stakes.
This year Midday has won another Nassau and a Yorkshire Oaks while Twice Over scored in the Eclipse before finishing runner-up to Rip Van Winkle at York last month.
“Rip looked like he was going nowhere two furlongs down but he got it all together and he got me nicely on the line,” Queally says.
“But we don’t’ have to find much and the smallest things going wrong can change these big races.”
What is clear is that despite riding hundreds of horses every year Twice Over’s personality has got under his jockey’s skin.
“It’s unbelievable for a horse to have such a laid-back temperament and still be top class. It’s unusual and he is a very special horse to me,” Queally admits.
“A mile and a quarter is his trip and he certainly deserves to be in this race. Leopardstown should be fine for him, and for me; I don’t think it has changed too much!”
Twice Over can provide his jockey with a real enough Group One chance this afternoon. And Queally has proven he can make the most of a chance.
Queally factfile
Born: October 8th, 1984 in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.
First Winner: Larifaari, Clonmel, April 13, 2000.
First Significant Winner: Tushna, Galway, 2000 McDonogh Handicap.
First Group Winner:Balestrini, Group Three Ballysax Stakes, 2003 Leopardstown.
Champion Apprentice Ireland: 2000.
Champion Apprentice Britain:2004.
Group One Winners: 2009: Art Connoisseur (Golden Jubilee Stakes), Fleeting Spirit (July Cup), Midday (Nassau Stakes and Breeders Cup Filly and Mare), Twice Over (Champion Stakes.)
2010: Twice Over (Eclipse Stakes) Midday (Nassau Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks.)
