Young jockey rides her first winner just hours after finishing Leaving Cert exam
Jockey Sadhbh Tormey certainly had a Friday 13th to remember when riding her first ever racecourse winner at Fairyhouse on Are You In Or Out.
The 19-year-old from Garristown in North County Dublin partnered the Paul Stafford-trained four-year-old filly to victory in the La Bucca Restaurants Handicap at the Meath venue.
The victory was all the more remarkable as the 10lbs claimer only finished a Leaving Cert exam in Construction Studies less than two hours beforehand and finishes it completely on Monday.
Tormey is a student at Coláiste De Lacy in Ashbourne and said after the race: 'I'm doing my Leaving Cert at the moment and had one exam today. I just got here on time. I probably left a bit earlier than I should have!'
'I couldn't believe it, it was unbelievable. I didn't know how long I was going to hold on, I thought they were going to catch me. When I crossed the line, I was so happy. I was just over the moon."
Tormey was cool and composed on the 13/2 shot, who quickened away impressively to take the race by three and a half lengths from Jackandthefox (6/1) and American In Paris (18/1).
It was her 20th racecourse ride and she added: 'I'm apprenticed to Tom McCourt. I started off riding out for Paul (Stafford) and he got me into Tom's. Tom has been very good to me this season and I'm very grateful for all my opportunities."
'I started with Paul four of five years ago, riding breakers and stuff, and then I signed on with him at the start of last year. He pushed me on to Tom to get more rides and get going."
She is well related in the racing world and is a niece of former jump jockey Glenn Tormey, and a cousin of former Cheltenham Festival winning rider Andrew Lynch, who's dad Sean was also a top jockey.
It was a real local success as Stafford is based in Oldtown and Fairyhouse would be the pair's local track.
Stafford told Irish Racing.com: 'She's a good, confident little kid. She has plenty of experience with ponies, show jumping and hunting. She's a good kid to ride.
'It's the kid's first winner and I'm delighted because she started with me. She's doing her Leaving Cert at the moment and had an exam today.
'Cork was on today and the usual jockeys were there and Sadhbh had ridden her before in the Curragh, when we actually gave her her first ride. We said we'd take a chance and roll the dice. She's a good kid, she's dedicated and works hard.
'Two furlongs down I was thinking 'God you are sitting a bit quiet'. I thought she should have been getting after her a bit, but obviously she felt she had plenty of horse. She won snug in the end."
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