Trainer Profile

County of origin: Kildare

First winner: He's Our Man (Andrew McNamara) Limerick May 5, 2012

Significant horses: Rocky Sky, Baie Des Iles, Call It Magic, Bythesametoken, He's Our Man, King Blue, An Fraoch Mor, Benefit Run, Kourvoisier, Dolce Sicily.


 

Did you know:

From Kildare, Ross was born into the racing game and grew up on the edge of the Curragh. His parents Johnny and Anne met while working for the legendary Mick O’Toole in the heyday of Maddenstown. His father began his career in racing as an apprentice on the Flat before turning to the jumping game, riding plenty of winners, including Tom Lacy’s great mare Height O’Fashion. Ross' mother Anne rode Arc En Ciel to win a bumper for Con Collins at the then Mallow Racecourse in the summer of 1975. 

Ross rode as an amateur rider himself, mainly for top trainer Jessica Harrington. He partnered 31 winners in all,  including notable performers Macs Joy and the Colm Murphy-trained Feathard Lady.

A trainer since 2011, he has enjoyed fair success under both codes and enjoyed his biggest success in Ireland when Baie Des Iles won the National Trial Handicap Chase at Punchestown in early February 2017. The winner was ridden by Katie Walsh who has been married to Ross since the summer of 2013. 

Baie Des Iles provided the stable with a bigger success in France in June 2018 where he landed the Grade 2 Prix des Drags at Auteuil when ridden by Paul Townend. Other notable performers for the Kill-based trainer have been Doonard Prince and He's Our Man which are both five-time winners for him and Rocky Sky which won the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes at Navan in April 2021.