Young jockey Danny Power talks 'surreal' first winner
The teenager scored a maiden victory on just his second ride at Cork on Easter Saturday
Wednesday, 03 April 2024
Power was led in by his mum after winning the tote, Never Beaten By SP Handicap
It was just surreal passing the finish line in front, it was incredible - Danny Power on his first win
It was perhaps fitting that teenager Danny Power's coming-of-age triumph came aboard the Willie McCreery-trained Stag Night, writes Ben Hart.
The 16-year-old from Knockanore in County Waterford scored his first winner on just his second ride at Cork on Easter Saturday.
Dreaming of a first winner is inevitable but preparing yourself for the emotion of the occasion is a much harder task and Power confessed the overwhelming feeling was one of shock.
“It was all kind of a blur and it didn't really hit me until I walked back into the parade ring and everyone was cheering me and saying well done,” said Power, who won by a neck from bookies' favourite Two Stars.
“It was just surreal passing the finish line in front, it was incredible.
“I was pretty nervous beforehand. I knew the horse had a chance and I didn't want to mess anything up or do anything silly, so I was just praying that nothing would happen.
“About a furlong and a half out I thought I was beat because he was kind of hanging onto me and I wasn't getting a clean push on him.
“I straightened him up then and he got his head down and really went for me.”
Power made his debut for McCreery at Dundalk two weeks previously, finishing ninth aboard Morning Approach.
Despite exercising the ‘genuine’ and ‘tough’ Stag Night at McCreery’s yard in Kildare, Power suspected he was too far down the pecking order for a ride in the tote, Never Beaten By SP Handicap.
“I thought there were one or two others who would be riding him because they have a lot more experience than
me,” he added.
“It was a shock because he's a good horse and I thought I wouldn't be riding a horse of that ability on my second ride.
“I can't describe how much confidence I got from it because to put an inexperienced jockey on a horse they're trying to win on was incredible.”
Up against the likes of Chris Hayes, Shane Foley, Wesley Joyce and Gary Carroll, you could have forgiven Power for feeling intimidated, but he looked far from out of place in such esteemed company.
“Even being in the weighing room alongside them was class, never mind riding alongside them,” said Power.
“It’s stuff you dream of riding alongside them guys.”
At just a smidge under six-foot tall, Power is learning to navigate his height as well as his relative inexperience.
A keen learner, he has reached out to nutritionists and dietitians for the best possible advice.
“We see nowadays there are taller jockeys in the weighing room and I suppose society itself is getting taller and you just have to adapt to it,” said Power.
“I'm quite lucky, I'm very skinny and I don't have much body fat, so that helps as well.
“I’ve had help with knowing what foods to eat and what foods won't put on too much fat or weigh but that will still give you enough energy for the day.
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“Then there’s when to eat and not eating big meals, maybe more smaller things more throughout today, that all comes into it.”
Growing up with few flat tracks nearby and coming from a family with a rich history in point-to-points, Power suspects his future lies over jumps, but that will not stop him from making the most of his time on the flat.
“The flat was only to start me off because I find it's very good for improving your style, strength, fitness and race riding,” he said.
“On the flat, things happen way quicker and you have to be very sharp.
“In the long term, I'd love to be a National Hunt jockey because I was brought up around National Hunt horses, point-to-points and schooling horses at home and I find there's nothing better than jumping a horse over a fence or hurdle.
“It’s a great feeling when you get a good one.”
Despite his fast start, Power is not getting ahead of himself. While a lot of his peers will be dreaming of the biggest races and prizes, he has far more modest aspirations.
“I suppose everybody's dream is to become champion jockey or to ride in or even win the Gold Cup and those big races, but I wouldn't mind if I just became a good, maybe average jockey, that gets a few winners every now and then,” added Power.
“That’ll do me perfect and I’ll just take it as it comes now and see what the future brings. I don't want to be thinking too much ahead of myself - time will tell I suppose.”
The 16-year-old from Knockanore in County Waterford scored his first winner on just his second ride at Cork on Easter Saturday.
Dreaming of a first winner is inevitable but preparing yourself for the emotion of the occasion is a much harder task and Power confessed the overwhelming feeling was one of shock.
“It was all kind of a blur and it didn't really hit me until I walked back into the parade ring and everyone was cheering me and saying well done,” said Power, who won by a neck from bookies' favourite Two Stars.
“It was just surreal passing the finish line in front, it was incredible.
“I was pretty nervous beforehand. I knew the horse had a chance and I didn't want to mess anything up or do anything silly, so I was just praying that nothing would happen.
“About a furlong and a half out I thought I was beat because he was kind of hanging onto me and I wasn't getting a clean push on him.
“I straightened him up then and he got his head down and really went for me.”
Power made his debut for McCreery at Dundalk two weeks previously, finishing ninth aboard Morning Approach.
Despite exercising the ‘genuine’ and ‘tough’ Stag Night at McCreery’s yard in Kildare, Power suspected he was too far down the pecking order for a ride in the tote, Never Beaten By SP Handicap.
“I thought there were one or two others who would be riding him because they have a lot more experience than
me,” he added.
Stag Night gives Danny Power a first career win in the @thetotecom Tote, Never Beaten By SP 5f Handicap for Trainer @williemccreery1 and Owner Amanda McCreery 🏆 pic.twitter.com/A7R4kMFhWS
— Cork Racecourse (@corkracecourse) March 30, 2024
“It was a shock because he's a good horse and I thought I wouldn't be riding a horse of that ability on my second ride.
“I can't describe how much confidence I got from it because to put an inexperienced jockey on a horse they're trying to win on was incredible.”
Up against the likes of Chris Hayes, Shane Foley, Wesley Joyce and Gary Carroll, you could have forgiven Power for feeling intimidated, but he looked far from out of place in such esteemed company.
“Even being in the weighing room alongside them was class, never mind riding alongside them,” said Power.
“It’s stuff you dream of riding alongside them guys.”
At just a smidge under six-foot tall, Power is learning to navigate his height as well as his relative inexperience.
A keen learner, he has reached out to nutritionists and dietitians for the best possible advice.
“We see nowadays there are taller jockeys in the weighing room and I suppose society itself is getting taller and you just have to adapt to it,” said Power.
“I'm quite lucky, I'm very skinny and I don't have much body fat, so that helps as well.
“I’ve had help with knowing what foods to eat and what foods won't put on too much fat or weigh but that will still give you enough energy for the day.
“Then there’s when to eat and not eating big meals, maybe more smaller things more throughout today, that all comes into it.”
Growing up with few flat tracks nearby and coming from a family with a rich history in point-to-points, Power suspects his future lies over jumps, but that will not stop him from making the most of his time on the flat.
“The flat was only to start me off because I find it's very good for improving your style, strength, fitness and race riding,” he said.
“On the flat, things happen way quicker and you have to be very sharp.
Many congratulations to 16-year-old Danny Power, who rode his first winner on only his second ride at @corkracecourse yesterday. 👏👏
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 31, 2024
He spoke with @irishkor afterwards about juggling school work and horses. pic.twitter.com/iuMc3n8Tbj
“In the long term, I'd love to be a National Hunt jockey because I was brought up around National Hunt horses, point-to-points and schooling horses at home and I find there's nothing better than jumping a horse over a fence or hurdle.
“It’s a great feeling when you get a good one.”
Despite his fast start, Power is not getting ahead of himself. While a lot of his peers will be dreaming of the biggest races and prizes, he has far more modest aspirations.
“I suppose everybody's dream is to become champion jockey or to ride in or even win the Gold Cup and those big races, but I wouldn't mind if I just became a good, maybe average jockey, that gets a few winners every now and then,” added Power.
“That’ll do me perfect and I’ll just take it as it comes now and see what the future brings. I don't want to be thinking too much ahead of myself - time will tell I suppose.”