Irish jump at the chance

Two Irish jockeys who rode in the Australia-Ireland jumps series in Victoria and South Australia almost six years ago have been licensed to ride in the new season that begins at Warrnambool on April 4 amid renewed optimism and a future secured for at least three seasons.

And other jockeys are expected come to both states, a result of concern over a shortage of riders here and of the effect the recession in Ireland is having on jobs there.

The 2005 visitors, Bobby Molloy and Tom Ryan, were licensed by Racing Victoria after riding in hurdle trials at Cranbourne on Tuesday overseen by steward Rob Montgomery.

The Irish recruitment is supported by leading trainer Eric Musgrove, but top jockey Steve Pateman regards it a over-reaction.

Musgrove, who has given work to Molloy, said that with the retirement of Craig Durden, Brett Scott, Adam Trinder, Brian Constable and Tommy Allanson, and probably Bill Williams, there was a shortage of jumps jockeys.

“We are definitely in need of more riders,” he said. “I think three are coming to Victoria and three to Adelaide. They’re all experienced riders and it’s just something we need for it to flourish.”

The website irishracing.com named Johnny Allen, Stephen Gray, Donal MacAuley, Ken Whelan and Eddie Power as others intending to ride in Australia.

Pateman said trainers were panicking a bit. “Yes, three have retired – (Adam) Trinder, ‘Durds’ and ‘Scotty’ – but then another three will step up. It’s the way it always is,” he said.

“I just hope the trainers support the Aussie boys because they’ve been through a lot the last three years. They deserve opportunity more than someone just hopping over.”

Molloy, 24, who has a one-year working visa, said he should have come earlier.

“I was here in 2005, that was my only trip,” he said of riding winners in the Ireland-Australia series. “Things are quiet (in racing) at home. The recession has affected a lot and they’re pulling out of horses.

“I came over at the end of January. I could have come over a year or two ago, I haven’t been doing much,” he said, adding his only decent winner of late had been on a novice hurdler, Shamiran, at the big Punchestown festival last November.

Another Irishman riding here, Martin Kelly (three years in Australia), put Molloy on to Musgrove, who offered him a job in the stables and riding work and, without guarantees, riding in races – Arron Lynch, Kelly and Pateman will have first dibs on Musgrove’s horses.

Molloy said Ryan, who came out before Christmas, is working at Flemington.

Photo: Bobby Molloy, left, and Tom Ryan on Eric Musgrove-trained hurdlers Ruby Beads and Bologna.