Image © Healy Racing
Conor Ryan made it one runner, one winner for the season when Alabama Way landed the opening division of the four-year-old mares’ maiden at Tullaherin last weekend, providing the second-season handler with his first four-year-old success.
The daughter of Shirocco, who was making her debut, produced a promising performance on her first start. She improved from mid-division to challenge approaching the penultimate fence and, after taking a narrow advantage at the last, stayed on well to score by two lengths.
An €8,000 purchase from the Goffs Arkle Sale, Alabama Way is the third foal out of three-time winner Lilywhite Gesture and is related to multiple winners, adding further appeal ahead of her likely appearance at the Goffs Punchestown Festival Sale.
Ryan admitted afterwards that while it is always difficult to be confident with a debutant, particularly in a four-year-old maiden, he had been pleased with what he was seeing at home in the lead-up.
“It’s hard to say that you’d fancy one first time out, especially a four-year-old as you don’t know what you’re going to meet, but she was in good form and the weekend couldn’t come quick enough.”
Ridden by Jack O’Grady, who rides out for Ryan, the mare benefitted from that familiarity.
“Jack rides out for me every day, so he knows her well.”
The mare has come out of the race in good order and is now set to head to the sales.
“She’s perfect after it and she might go to the sales next week.”
Owned by a local group, the Ballagh War Piper Syndicate, the winner also carries an unusual ownership name, which has its roots in local history, referencing the Ballagh Warpipers, a notable early 20th-century pipe band from County Tipperary.
Ryan is still in the early stages of his training career, having only sent out his first runner last season, but he has already shown what can be achieved with limited numbers.
Operating with just one horse in his first season, he struck with his second runner when Kilmore Coral won her maiden at Stradbally in April last year before also finishing second twice in mares’ winners’ races, highlighting the consistency he was able to achieve from a very small team.
That mare has since progressed under Rules, with Sam Curling taking over her training for owner Anthony Creane, and she has already added a maiden hurdle success at Tramore, further underlining the promise she had shown in Ryan’s care.
Ryan continues to operate on a small scale, with just two horses currently in training, combining it with his work as an electrical contractor.
“Training is more or less a hobby for me… a working hobby.”
From his Kikmore base in County Tipperary, Ryan trains using his own facilities and also avails of nearby handler Sam Curling’s gallops.
“I have my own gallop and facilities, and I’m just around the corner from Sam Curling. Sam is very good to me, I can use his gallops for any fast work and schooling.”
Ryan developed his interest in racing having ridden out for local trainers in his younger years, while he also hunts with the Tipperary Foxhounds.
“I used to ride out for a few local trainers when I was younger, in my late teens and early twenties.”
He is content to allow things to develop gradually from here.
“I might train a couple more next year, just a handful.”
The second of his current inmates is another well-bred four-year-old filly by Maxios, although she is unlikely to be seen before the end of the current campaign.
“I’ll hold on to her and give her time to mature.”
With a debut four-year-old winner now on the board, Ryan is continuing to make his mark despite operating on a small scale
With a debut four-year-old winner now on the board, Ryan is continuing to make his mark despite operating on a small scale
