ROOKIE PILOT IS TAKING OFF
Sheridan vying to be king of the apprentices
“This is our biggest race of the year”
“Win your races and everything else is a bonus”
THE last race of the card at the Curragh this evening is the first on the minds for most of Ireland’s top young riders.
Over a mile and a half, the €21,000 Extra.ie Apprentice Derby (7.45) is a coveted prize for the tenderfoots of the turf to have on their CV.
It’s a sign of a young rider on the upgrade when the legendary WP Mullins gives you the leg up, and teenager Joey Sheridan has that privilege as he partners Foveros in the 18-runner race.
Last seen in the ultra-competitive Ladbrokes Hurdle at Leopardstown last Saturday, Foveros won twice over timber in Galway last year and previously had smart form in France.
The Authorized gelding clearly has every chance on the formbook and the booking by Mullins of Sheridan is a further sign of stable confidence.
For Sheridan, it’s a plus to be involved in a race of this calibre, which counts highly among the rookie pilots. ‘Gavin Ryan has won it twice, it’s probably the biggest apprentice race of the year. For a lot of us riding in that race, it’s the only ride of the day. Rides are hard to get for apprentices, especially on the Derby weekend,’ he said.
‘I’ve a lovely horse for Willie in Foveros, who has plenty of gears, and I’m hopeful of a big run.’
At 18, Tipperary native Sheridan has won twice on Ireland’s fastest horse, Sceptical, through his association with the in-form Denis Hogan yard, and has enjoyed success in Ireland’s premier long-distance handicap, the Cesarewitch, last October.
The latter race marked his first alliance with Mullins, when he coasted home on Royal Illusion for the biggest win of his fledgling career.
‘To win it the way she did was brilliant. Things didn’t go to plan as Willie wanted me up in the first six or eight. The start was very messy as lads were keen to kick on.
‘There was loads of pace and I ended up being three quarters the way back. In hindsight, it was a good thing. She was able to bring me there on the bridle, two out and she galloped on from the rest of the field.’
That success stamped Sheridan as a jockey on the rise as he finished 2019 with 20 wins, level with such experienced hands as Jamie Heffernan and Wayne Lordan.
This year has been a slow burner for everyone in racing but Sheridan has two wins on the board, including the speedy Sceptical, who bolted home when the season resumed in Naas on June 8.
‘That was an unbelievable experience and I was very grateful to Denis to get that opportunity. He was only beaten a head in Ascot (Diamond Jubilee Stakes) but we know he’s a Group One horse. We’ve not seen the best of him yet.’
Nor has racing seen the best of Sheridan, who is prepared to bide his time in the ranks and use his claim to bag rides, and winners, where possible. The backing of Hogan is a plus.
‘I won’t lose my claim as I’ve only rode 23 winners, so it gives me another 70 to go. That won’t happen this season.
‘If I had the same amount of winners as I had last year, I’d be delighted.’
‘Ask any apprentice in the weighroom and they’ll tell you it’s about not thinking too far ahead. Just try and ride as many winners as you can and everything else is a bonus.’
Sometimes, it’s the quality of win, rather than quantity, which catches the eye. Having a ‘Derby’ on the board wouldn’t go amiss for rising star Sheridan.