The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit went to Pat Smullen in London on Tuesday evening .
The nine-time champion Flat jockey in his native Ireland enjoyed numerous big-race successes before the life-changing news he received in 2018 which has seen him become a substantial fundraiser for charity.
Born in Rhode, County Offlay, on May 22, 1977, Smullen was one of four sons. He initially was far more interested in football than horses, unlike his eldest brother Sean who worked for trainer Joanna Morgan.
One day when their father Paddy was dropping off Sean for work, Morgan put her head inside the car and enquired whether Pat would also be interested in horses. From that point onwards, Pat’s equine activities took off as he was introduced to riding, hunting, show jumping and preparing horses for breeze-up sales.
The racing connection developed further when his father got in contact with local trainer Tommy Lacy and Pat went on to serve a four-year apprenticeship with the Tullamore handler. The first winner came aboard Vicosa, trained by Lacy, at Dundalk on June 11, 1993, following an initial ride the previous September.
The apprentice gained the attention of several other trainers and the winners began to flow, leading to Smullen being crowned champion apprentice in Ireland in both 1995 and 1996.
Then came the opportunity to ride as second jockey behind Johnny Murtagh for trainer John Oxx, where he improved again over a two-year spell. A first G1 success was achieved on the Tommy Stack-trained Tarascon in the 1997 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.
He was also used regularly by leading trainer Dermot Weld. When Weld’s number one, Michael Kinane, made the move to Ballydoyle, Pat was the natural choice to take the job at Rosewell House in 1999.
Laurent Feniou, Cartier UK, Pat Smullen and Marcus Armytage of The Daily Telegraph
The Weld connection, with Moyglare Stud the main owner, saw him crowned champion jockey in Ireland for the first time in 2000, thanks to the help of his agent and brother-in-law Kevin O’Ryan.
He went on to be Irish champion again in 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016 – the year he gained his highest winning total of 129 in Ireland.
Not long after his initial jockeys’ championship, he experienced private joy when marrying trainer Frances Crowley in 2001. Frances hails from one of Ireland’s most famous racing dynasties – her father Joe was a successful trainer under both codes while her sister is Annemarie O’Brien, wife of the recording-breaking handler Aidan O’Brien.
Frances herself created history in 2005 when becoming the first female trainer in Ireland to saddle a Classic winner – Saoire in the 2005 Irish 1,000 Guineas. It was a great family day as Pat won the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on the Weld-trained Grey Swallow. Pat and Frances are blessed with three children – Sarah, Hannah and Paddy.
In 2001, Pat enjoyed the first of nine Irish Classic success on Vinnie Roe in the Irish St Leger and he would go on to partner the great stayer for a further three wins in the Curragh contest – 2002, 2003 and 2004.
The duo also went down valiantly under top-weight when runner-up to mighty mare Makybe Diva in Australia’s Melbourne Cup in 2004, having won the Prix Royal-Oak, the French St Leger, in 2001.
The first of eight Royal Ascot victories was provided by Irresistible Jewel in the 2002 Ribblesdale Stakes, with British Classic success coming courtesy of Refuse To Bend in the 2003 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Over the next few years, Pat’s career continued to go from strength to strength as he racked up the winners, with highlights including Grey Swallow (2004 Irish Derby), Dress To Thrill (2002 Matron Stakes, Sun Chariot Stakes & Matriarch Stakes) and Rite Of Passage (2010 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot).
2015 proved particularly fruitful, as he landed two of Ascot’s major G1 prizes – the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes (Free Eagle) and the QIPCO Champion Stakes (Fascinating Rock). He also struck a great partnership with the Hugo Palmer-trained Covert Love, annexing the Irish Oaks and the Prix de l’Opera.
Even better was to come in 2016. After an early morning injury scare involving a dislodged shoe, the Aga Khan’s Harzand was partnered to victory in the world’s most famous Classic, the Derby at Epsom Downs, England. It was a dream come true for Pat, who regards the victory as his biggest. The rider and colt teamed up again to capture the Irish Derby later the same month.
With a career in full-flight, Pat was rightly regarded as one of the world’s leading jockeys. In March, 2018, he stood down from his booked rides after reporting “absolute agony”. This was initially thought likely to be a kidney stone and it was hoped that he would make a speedy recovery. However, it proved to be far more serious.
Pancreatic cancer was diagnosed and Pat subsequently underwent surgery. On medical advice, he announced, his retirement from the saddle in May this year.
Pat has thrown himself wholeheartedly into the battle against pancreatic cancer. His fundraising efforts have yielded over €2.5 million, culminating on Longines Irish Champions Weekend in September this year.
The Pat Smullen Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland saw nine former top jockeys including Sir A P McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Johnny Murtagh coming out of retirement for a special contest at the Curragh in September 15. Originally intending to ride in the race himself, Pat was unable to return to the saddle because of a set-back in his recovery from cancer, although he was present on course to witness McCoy come out on top.
He reflected: “You have to face it – what else do you do, lie down and give up? You can’t do that.
“I have tremendous support from an amazing family and great friends.
“The support from everybody is unbelievable. The racing community has proved itself how it rallies around in times of need.
“It is just great to still be part of this great industry. I can’t thank everybody enough.
“I can reassure everyone that every penny donated is going to a very worthy cause, which what we always set out to do – to make a difference.”
- Footage contribution from Racing TV (@RacingTV),ITV Racing (@itvracing), Sky Sports Racing (@SkySportsRacing) and Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing)
