Image © Healy Racing
Operating at a 50 per cent strike rate, Kieran Roche is enjoying the most productive season of his training career to date, with four winners from just eight runners so far this campaign.
Based at Adamstown in County Wexford, Roche has been steadily building his operation since first sending out runners during the 2013/14 season.
Based at Adamstown in County Wexford, Roche has been steadily building his operation since first sending out runners during the 2013/14 season.
When asked if there is a reason for the influx of winners, Roche explained: “I’d say it’s down to having a better quality of horse. That’s probably the main reason. You still need luck, but when the quality improves, everything becomes a bit easier.”
Roche currently has seven or eight horses in training and runs a small, hands-on operation from home. While the numbers are modest, the consistency of results this season underlines how effectively the yard is functioning.
“I tip away at home myself, and then Donal O’Connor, James Murray and James Walsh help me out with schooling and faster work.
“I do all the slow work here, and when I bring them away, the lads do the jumping and sharper stuff. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.”
The Adamstown handler saddled his latest winner at the rescheduled Tinahely meeting last weekend, where Dream On Mick impressively captured the five-year-old geldings’ maiden under James Murray.
The Ol’ Man River gelding had failed to complete on his debut at Ballindenisk in November, but Roche was confident that effort was better than the bare result.
The Ol’ Man River gelding had failed to complete on his debut at Ballindenisk in November, but Roche was confident that effort was better than the bare result.
“He was running a real nice race in Ballindenisk,” Roche recalled.
“He was bang there turning in, but another horse bumped him on the bend and he ran right out wide. He actually got caught in the tape on the far side and went down on his knees. That was the end of it. We were expecting him to run well that day, and we were expecting him to run well in Tinahely as well.”
Given a patient ride, Dream On Mick duly atoned for that Ballindenisk run, winning what proved to be the fastest race on the card, scoring by five lengths from Gentle Ocean with the pair drawing well clear of the remainder of the field. He came out of the race in fine order and will now head to the Tattersalls January Cheltenham Sale.
“There’s not a bother on him at all after the race.
"He’s a very laid-back horse and a pleasure to do anything with. He could nearly run again straight away. He’ll go to Cheltenham now.”
Much of Roche’s current success is built around his long-standing association with owner Mick Kenny, a publican and farmer based in Carnew, County Wicklow. Kenny, who owns The Corner House Pub in the village, has been a major supporter of the yard for over a decade.
“I met Mick through John O’Toole when I was riding out for him in Carnew,” Roche explained. “We might be involved together 14 or 15 years now. We started off with half-breds and then moved into thoroughbreds, and it just kind of snowballed from there. He’s very involved and very interested, and he’s a great supporter.”
Roche regularly uses Kenny’s land near Carnew to gallop the horses, making the journey from Adamstown each week.
“We gallop the horses up there every week,” he said. “It takes me about an hour to get there, but it’s well worth it.”
Earlier in the season, Roche enjoyed a notable first training double when Taranis Dubh and Arklow both scored on the same card at Umma House. That day also marked Donal O’Connor’s first double in the saddle, adding further significance to the achievement.
“That was my first double as a trainer as well. I kind of said to myself that day, if I had nothing else for the rest of the year, I’d have had a good year.”
Several of those winners have since moved on to new connections, with Taranis Dubh embarking on a track career with Olly Murphy, Arklow purchased by the Beswick Brothers Bloodstock and Norristown Lady joining Emmet Mullins’ team.
“You always like to see them go on and do something on the track.
“That’s what we’re trying to do here; buy them at the right money, do a job with them, and move them on.”
Roche learned his trade riding out for the likes of Denis Hickey at Garryrichard Stud, John O’Toole and Michael Cullen, and also rode as an amateur with success himself, registering around 20 winners between the flags along with a bumper victory as a teenager.
“I couldn’t really see myself doing anything else,” he admitted. “When you like what you’re doing, it doesn’t feel like work. You hop out of bed every morning and go out to the horses.”
With several exciting four-year-olds still to run later in the spring and others from the yard yet to make their debut, Roche remains grounded about the remainder of the season.
“You can get put back on your backside fairly quickly in this game. I just take every day as it comes. If the horses are healthy and running well, that’s the main thing.”
