Heffernan: ‘No Regrets And No Plans To Retire – I’ve A Few Scores To Settle First!’

[Wandering Eyes]

Retirement is not on the agenda for multiple Group 1 and Classic-winning jockey Seamie Heffernan who, after partnering six winners so far during a winter stint in Bahrain, joked that he has 'a few scores to settle' back home in Ireland before hanging up the boots.

It is nearly a year since the 52-year-old announced that he would not be returning to Ballydoyle to ride for Aidan O'Brien, as a result bringing the curtain down on a 30-year relationship that yielded countless big winners across the globe. 

Heffernan has ridden principally in Bahrain for Sheikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa, owner of Irish Champion Stakes winner Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire})). Those six wins leave him in eighth position in the overall jockeys' standings in Bahrain this winter and, while he has no firm plans for when he returns home to Ireland, he says he still has the hunger to compete on the big stage.

“When you get the opportunities, you don't forget where the winning post is,” he summarised. “I have done stints in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Abu Dhabi but it was a long time ago. With the Ballydoyle job, when it came to the end of the year, you needed a break. You needed six weeks to two months off every winter. That was a tough gig but it was grand when you were young and getting rewarded. But when things start to change, you have to make a change.”

He added, “I came over here for one owner, Sheikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa, so I ride all of his horses. He likes to have a jockey who can give him a little bit of feedback and guidance. His trainer out here, Allan Smith, has been here a long time and he knows his horses inside out. We are all working together to try and get the right results on the track.”

Sheikh Isa has a number of possibilities for the Saudi Cup meeting in a little over a month's time which Heffernan would be in line to ride. But he says that the most enjoyable aspect of his role in Bahrain has been providing feedback to the people behind what is one of the emerging bloodstock and racing nations. 

“They are putting a lot of effort into it here in Bahrain,” he said. “They don't have grass out here so the horse population is made up of local breds and many more imported horses. It's nice to be able to talk amongst ourselves and to be able to give them a little bit of feedback and enjoy the racing out here while we do it. It's a lot more relaxed than Dubai. Allan has a couple of entries on Saudi Cup night so, listen, they're entered at this stage and hopefully they will be good enough and well enough when the time comes.”

He continued, “When I ride something, I like to go into the pedigree. I think an awful lot of this game comes back to pedigree. There are a lot of trainers using GPS systems, heart rate monitors and different apps. Basically, there is not a whole pile to training a horse other than don't over work them and don't under work them. Pedigrees will usually get you out of a hole.”

“I am just hoping to be around for a good while longer to settle a few scores back in Ireland!”

Last year's tally of 28 winners from 439 rides represented the lowest domestic haul since 2019, where he partnered 25 horses to victory. In the absence of the Ballydoyle gig in 2024, it was Fozzy Stack who provided the bulk of Heffernan's ammunition, with the rider partnering four winners from 36 rides for the Golden-based handler. Kevin Coleman was next best with two wins from 20 rides while Tom Mullins, Michael O'Callaghan and Willie Browne didn't hesitate in calling on Heffernan either. 

However, his only Group success in the entire campaign came aboard Amo Racing's Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown.

Reflecting on last year's results, he said, “I suppose the bigger yards in Ireland these days are Donnacha, Joseph and Aidan [O'Brien] and, when they are saying no to you, you're in trouble. The other trainers, Dermot Weld, Johnny Murtagh etc have to look after their own jockeys as well. Otherwise, they won't have them. I was quite happy with how the year went. I rode plenty of horses for many different trainers. The one thing that probably gets me into trouble is, when I jump down off one, I tell the truth. Sometimes, it's not what people want to hear.

“I have a very good agent and have great people who support me and give me first refusal on horses. They may not have big strings but I appreciate their support. As long as I'm enjoying it and as long as I can do the job to the best of my ability, I will take their support and appreciate it.”

He added, “I ride a bit for Kevin Coleman for example and he's a bit of a workaholic. He's a complete horseman and knows his horses inside out. He knows their ability and gets them ready for a day and usually that works out. I'm surprised that he doesn't get bigger owners and more support. But that's just the way it is in Ireland. It's extremely competitive.

“I actually missed out on being placed in the Irish 1,000 Guineas [aboard A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire})] for Paddy Twomey as well. I picked up an injury just before Guineas weekend. Paddy is very close to me and, when he heard that I wasn't going back to Ballydoyle, he rang me and said, 'Billy [Lee] rides everything but if you are interested in riding out, I'll look after you and there should be a few spares.' Listen, I enjoy Paddy. He's young and he's had very good results. When you are young and are getting results, you will have some people who begrudge you. But Paddy likes to keep his strike-rate high and only runs his horses if he thinks they have a chance. I think I only had a couple of rides for him last year and both were placed.”

Heffernan admitted to being open to opportunities when he returns home to Ireland ahead of the turf season, saying “life is too short,” but insists he has no regrets about ending his association with Ballydoyle. 

He concluded, “I have no plans for when I come back to Ireland and absolutely no regrets either. Things change and times change. Time waits for no man and nothing lasts forever. No regrets. But it was a bit of candy when Sheikh Isa and Allan Smith offered me this job. They know what I can achieve and probably thought there was a bit of life in me yet.

“I am just hoping to be around for a good while longer to settle a few scores back in Ireland! To be honest about it all, I'm 52 at the moment and I watch the replays of all my races. I think I'm riding as well and as sharp as ever. But there will come a day, and I'm getting close to it, when I look at a replay and say, 'wow, it's time to draw a line.' But I have no plans on what I am going to do when I get back home to Ireland. And I've no big plans for the future. All I can say is that I am very lucky that I minded what I was earning over the years so I am privileged to be in a comfortable position.”

The post Heffernan: ‘No Regrets And No Plans To Retire – I’ve A Few Scores To Settle First!’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article