‘I Love Doing What I Do – And Now I’m Doing It In A Country I Love Living In’

[Wandering Eyes]

Jockey Elizabeth Gale speaks about following her heart by moving to Ireland, her ambitions in the saddle and more

Sometimes it's good to let the heart rule the head. Just ask apprentice and conditional jockey Elizabeth Gale who, despite going against what many warned could be a detrimental move to her career in the saddle, began full-time life in Ireland with a bang when punching out the Denis Hogan-trained Sporting Hero to victory in a sprint handicap at Dundalk last week.

This wasn't the 24-year-old's first rodeo in Ireland, either. Eagle-eyed observers may remember that Joseph O'Brien called upon Gale's services last summer for the Ladies Derby at the Curragh. The result? Gale blew her rivals away aboard O'Brien's Masoun in the prestigious Curragh handicap that has been won by the likes of Nina Carberry, Katie Walsh and Lisa O'Neill in recent years. 

Sporting Hero helped Gale keep her 100 per cent record intact on the level in Ireland but the rider, who is equally as effective over hurdles and fences, is under no illusions about the task at hand in building on that momentum and making a go of it in Ireland.

She said, “This is something I have wanted to do for a very long time. Every time I have come over to Ireland, I never wanted to leave. Obviously, my career in the saddle has been largely based in Britain up until now but, to be honest, I had a bit of time off over the Christmas because I got my shoulder operated on and I just thought, 'let's give it a go.' I am 24 now and I have had some great days in England and everything was going well but I just felt like I needed a change. If I didn't do it now, I don't think I'd ever have done it.”

Gale added, “I spoke to plenty of people before I came over. A few people pointed out that there is more racing in England and that it may be more viable to stay where I was but then plenty of others provided me with encouragement about the idea. At the end of the day, it was my decision and it was something I really wanted to do. Everyone has been great ever since I decided to come over. It was a bit of a punt anyway!”

So, too, was that winner for Hogan. Gale only decided to venture in to ride out for trainer on the strength of her friend being based at the County Tipperary stable. Next thing she knew, Hogan had jocked her up for the ride aboard Sporting Hero in that opening sprint handicap at Dundalk just a couple of days later. Talk about grabbing opportunities that present themselves. 

Gale joked, “I still have a 100 per cent strike-rate riding on the Flat in Ireland so hopefully we can keep that going! That was really nice and it is always very helpful getting an early winner on the board so I am very grateful to Denis for putting me up in the first place. That wasn't planned at all. I have a friend who works for Denis so I rode out there one morning and next thing he put me up. I'm doing two days a week for Denis now but, to be honest, everything works differently over here. I have family here in Ireland – Brian Harding is my stepdad – and I will base myself with them in Cork. I haven't got anything set in stone but am looking forward to building up my base of contacts and that winner last week was a huge help.” 

She added, “I am riding off a dual licence so the plan is to give it a go over both codes. I have spoken a bit to Ken Whelan about becoming my agent so that's a possibility. I was doing very light weights last year but I have stepped back from doing light weights after being off injured. I rode off 10 stone last week and the rides I take on the Flat will be at the higher end of the weights. At the same time, I don't want to be too light for the jumps so it's about getting that balance. My body wasn't responding well to some of the weights I accepted last year and, in my heart of hearts, I wanted to go back jumping, so I think I have a good balance going forward.”

To this day, Gale says that famous Curragh triumph aboard Masoun sits proudly as one of her finest moments in the game. She also secured a memorable triumph aboard Celebre d'Allen at Aintree in 2023 and makes no bones about the fact National Hunt racing is her first love. Therefore, the prospects of picking up an outside ride in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival is something she has set her sights upon.

She concluded, “That [Masoun's Ladies Derby win] has to be one of my best days in the saddle. Now, I did get to partner dear old Celebre d'Allen to victory in a Veterans' Chase at Aintree a few years ago and, because that was over jumps, that has to be right up there as well. But definitely, riding the winner of the Ladies Derby for Joseph O'Brien at a track like the Curragh was an amazing experience. That is a very prestigious race to win and, who knows, I could try to win it again this year! But I do this because I love it. I don't set many targets. Now, I'd love to pick up a ride in something like the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham – I dream about days like that – but the main aim is to just take things day by day and do the best that I can. I absolutely love what I do and now I'm doing it in a country that I absolutely love living in so hopefully we can pick up plenty of winners along the way.”

The post ‘I Love Doing What I Do – And Now I’m Doing It In A Country I Love Living In’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article