With the jumps season fast approaching, Dylan Mcdonagh has been a welcome addition to the depleted New Zealand jumps jockey riding ranks in the last week.
The 29-year-old Irishman arrived in the country last Thursday and made an instant impact when winning his first race aboard No Bizz at Wanganui last Friday for new employers Paul Nelson and Corrina McDougal.
“I arrived at 9am on Thursday. Paul threw me up on a horse when I got back to the farm and then I headed to the races on Friday,” Mcdonagh said.
“The eyes were hanging out of my head with tiredness, it took 31 hours altogether to get here, but you couldn’t ask for a better start.”
Initially set to ride in Australia over the jumps season, visa issues meant that was no longer an option, and Mcdonagh decided he would then try his luck in New Zealand.
“I was meant to ride in Australia over the jumps season. I applied for the visa too late and I had seen Paul had advertised for a jumps jockey. I spoke a bit with Aaron Kuru (jumps jockey) and I have ended up here,” McDonagh said.
“I am just going to take it as it comes, ride out the season for as long as I can and then go travelling and see a bit of the country before I head back home.”
Mcdonagh doesn’t hail from a racing family and said it was by chance that he ended up in a career as a jockey, which has taken him all over the world.
“I have always loved horses, but I don’t have a horsey background, my family aren’t in racing and don’t have anything to do with racing,” he said.
“I was very lucky and I got the opportunity to go to England where I learned to ride a week after my 16th birthday.
“It has been a blessing in disguise being put into this industry. It has been hard, but it has taken me to places that I would have never seen.
“I was a jumps jockey in England, America and Australia, and I managed to ride winners in all of those countries. I have enjoyed them all as much as each other.”
While he has enjoyed a career in the saddle, Mcdonagh said he is now at the stage of his career where he is looking to transition in training, and is eyeing a move to the United States to commence that dream.
“I think this season will be my last racing unless something magical happens,” he said. “My long-term goal is training, I have always wanted to train horses since I figured out what I am doing (in racing).
“I think I may head to America to try and train. I spent a bit of time in Virginia, Maryland and Pennysylvania. I think Maryland was my favourite place, but I wouldn’t rule out checking out Kentucky and a few other places.”
While training is where he sees his future, Mcdonagh is looking forward to riding in New Zealand over the next few months and will be looking to extend his 100 percent record in the country when he heads to Woodville on Friday.
“I have two rides at Woodville,” he said. “I don’t know too much about the maiden (Sandy Lane) of Craig Lupton’s. I have watched the replay and he looks like he goes okay.
“In the 65 I have got one for Paul and Corrina, Rhodesian, he should go alright hopefully. I sat on him today and he feels in good order. I think he likes the ground a bit softer than what it is at the minute, but we are forecast for rain on Friday, which should suit. But regardless, I think he should be a chance.”
