Image © Healy Racing
Former Under-21 champion Pearse Rogan made a welcome return to the saddle at Castletown-Geoghegan on Sunday, ending a four-year hiatus from race riding.
The County Wexford native first sampled race riding in July 2018, partnering Cashless in a Qualified Riders’ contest at Leopardstown for his then boss Jim Bolger. Before joining Bolger, Rogan learned the ropes riding out for Shay Slevin, who also provided him with his first point-to-point ride at Tinahely in October 2018.
Rogan didn’t have to wait long for success. In December 2020, he steered the Donnchadh Doyle-trained Fiston Du Mou to victory at Dromahane, and the winners soon flowed. That same season, he was crowned Under-21 Novice Rider Champion, finishing the campaign with eight winners, all but one supplied by Doyle.
In total, Rogan had around 15 track rides and registered 10 point-to-point winners from 107 rides before stepping away from the saddle in the autumn of 2021.
Reflecting on his decision to take a break, he explained:
“I was struggling with my weight at the time and decided that I wanted to complete an electrical apprenticeship.
After 18 months in the trade, Rogan felt that the apprenticeship wasn’t for him and swapped tools for machinery, heading to Australia to work in the mines.
“I loved my time in Australia. I was driving a digger in the mines. I don’t regret going there at all. I met some great people and really enjoyed it.”
When he returned home, Rogan worked with his uncle for a period before a few racing friends encouraged him to join Colin Bowe’s yard.
“My passion for horses was reignited. It’s a great place to work and there are some great people there.”
He started with Bowe around three months ago, at the beginning of the summer, and as he began riding out regularly, his weight naturally dropped.
“When I got down to 11 stone, I decided to take out my license again and give things another go.”
That decision led him to Castletown-Geoghegan, where he made his competitive comeback aboard the David Christie-trained Ultimate Optimist in the open.
“It was a great feeling to be back in the weighroom. It couldn’t have worked out any better. I had a nice spin around on an open horse for David.
"Barry O’Neill told me to give David a call, and to be fair, Barry has always been very good to me, even when I was riding before.”
"Barry O’Neill told me to give David a call, and to be fair, Barry has always been very good to me, even when I was riding before.”
Now 24, Rogan admits there were nerves on his return but plenty of excitement too.
“I was a little nervous, but happy to be on an older open horse and not a young one for my first ride back. I’m probably still a bit unfit, but I’ll soon overcome that.”
He looks back fondly on his early riding days, particularly his association with Donnchadh Doyle:
“In the four years I rode, the day I won the five-year-old maiden for Donnchadh on Secret Scripture was a standout. I look back on my days in Donnchadh’s with great fondness, he was really good to me and gave me every opportunity.”
Now, with his licence renewed and the hunger for success reignited, Rogan is focused on rebuilding momentum.
“If I can keep my weight right and pick up a few more spins, that’s the plan. It would be nice to get up on some of the decent young horses again.
"The main aim is to tip away, get my eye back in, and hopefully pick up a couple of winners along the way.”
“If I can keep my weight right and pick up a few more spins, that’s the plan. It would be nice to get up on some of the decent young horses again.
"The main aim is to tip away, get my eye back in, and hopefully pick up a couple of winners along the way.”
