O'Shea: "In the morning I had a mortgage, I'd paid it off by bedtime."
Cork jockey relives Dubai World Cup win as he starts defence of his UAE Champion Jockey title
Tadhg O'Shea celebrates after winning the $12m Dubai World Cup in March. He returns to Dubai this week in search of his 13th Champion Jockey title (Racing Post Photos)
"You wake up on a Saturday morning with a mortgage and go to bed that evening with none. It still probably hasn't sunk in. - Tadhg O'Shea on his Dubai World Cup win
It's been quite the year for Irish jockeys overseas - from Rossa Ryan's win at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Oisin Murphy's British Champion Jockey title, Colin Keane's success at the Breeders' Cup and Robbie Dolan's victory at the Melbourne Cup, writes James Toney.
But Tadhg O'Shea’s brilliance in the Dubai World Cup earlier this year might just top the lot.
O'Shea produced the ‘ride of a lifetime’ on Juddmonte colt Laurel River to win the $12 million prize, the world's richest flat race.
But perhaps it should be no surprise, the 42-year-old is the most successful jockey of all time in the UAE, winning his 12th Champion Jockey title there earlier this year.
The new season is underway again this week and the 42-year-old from Dromahane, Co Cork, has lost none of his determination to add to his honours and underline his status as one of Ireland's great sporting exports.
"Dubai has been a very lucky place for me," O'Shea tells Horse Racing Ireland.
"I was Champion Apprentice here in Ireland in 2000 and 2001 and that last win got me a scholarship to go to Dubai on an all-expenses paid trip and I've never looked back since.
"There's a big Irish population there, everyone from the stall handlers to the lads riding out and the jockeys, there's a real community of us, which makes it feel like a home from home and I probably spend more time there than I do in Ireland now.
"To have a Group One double on Dubai World Cup night was something special, and Laurel River topped off 21 years of hard work and I had the luxury of steering him around.
"It's the biggest race day around the world and the prize money on offer is something else. Despite all my time there this was just my third ride in the race and to win it was pinch yourself stuff, totally life changing.
"You wake up on a Saturday morning with a mortgage and go to bed that evening with none. It still probably hasn't sunk in.
"I'm focussed on the new season now. I don't like setting myself too many goals as you get disappointed but I'll try to ride as many winners as I can because I'm very fortunate to get some great rides for two great stables."
"It was pinch yourself stuff, totally life changing."
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) November 13, 2024
Cork jockey @OsheaTadhg reflects on his Dubai World Cup win as he returns to the UAE in search of his 13th Champion Jockey title this week. #GreenTeam pic.twitter.com/5O0IPCuwKg
O'Shea grew up on a housing estate in Dromahane, the second youngest of seven with no direct connection to horses as a child.
His cousins, Declan and Liam, were both jockeys and his father was a huge fan of the sport, the young O'Shea enrolling at the Racing Academy in Kildare as six-and-a-half stone 15-year old.
He was sent to serve his apprenticeship with trainer Michael Halford alongside fellow graduate Debbie Pierce, later to become his wife, the couple have two sons, Darragh and Aaron.
O’Shea made his debut at the Curragh in October 1998 and won his first race 11 months later when Class Society won at Tipperary.
He has since ridden winners around the world but remains the man to beat in Dubai, his win on Laurel River proving he can deliver in races big and small.
"It has been a place of real opportunity for me, I was pretty cautious when going over there but the bigger risk in life is not taking a risk," adds O'Shea.
"There have been plenty of lows together with the highs and what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. I'm always happiest when I'm on a horse."