Benji Coogan

A successful apprentice in Ireland, Brendan Joseph (Benji) Coogan was born on March 6, 1958. He scored his first important victory while still a 7lb claimer on Magnier’s colt Polar Jinks in the valuable Madrid Free Handicap at the Curragh on April 5, 1975. 

The following month he won a pair of staying handicaps at Navan and Leopardstown on Noel Meade’s Just For Fun. On June 12 he rode a double at Naas on Hi-Jay in the apprentice handicap and the filly Secret Smile in the Rathangan Stakes. In July he won the Celbridge Handicap at Naas on Queen. On August 12 he lost his 7lb claim when riding Hi-Jay to victory in the Tramore Handicap at Waterford & Tramore’s summer festival meeting. At the Tralee festival in September he won a seven-furlong handicap on 14-1 shot Polyxo. By then he was on his way.

Further success followed over the next few seasons as trainers sought advantage of Benji’s apprentice allowance. A Sligo double for Noel Meade in August 1977 was followed the next month by another high-profile win on the Tom Lacy-trained Scroll in the Waterford Crystal Handicap at Waterford & Tramore. 

August and September 1978 saw Benji in flying form. On August 1 he won the valuable Sean Graham Handicap at the Galway festival on Noel Meade’s filly La Cita. He rode doubles on consecutive days at Waterford & Tramore on August 15 and 16, the first day aboard Noel Meade’s Amber Gift and Paddy Norris’s Fleet Girl; the second day on Fleet Girl again in the Hack On and Champagne Plate, then on Noel Reardon’s filly Doonasleen in a two-mile maiden. On September 6 he won another valuable race, the Bass St Leger Trial Handicap at Tralee, on La Cita. Back at Waterford & Tramore three days later, he rode yet another double there on Paddy Mullins’ filly Cathy Gray and Kevin Kerr’s filly Silver Doll, resulting in his claim being cut from 5lb to 3lb. He won on Cathy Gray again at Punchestown in October.

Still able to utilise his 3lb claim in 1979, Benji returned to his lucky track, Waterford & Tramore, to ride two more winners at the June meeting, including the Dungarvan Plate on Clem Magnier’s filly March Home. On July 4 he won the Morny Wing Memorial Apprentices’ Handicap at the Curragh on Accipiter. Three days later he won a valuable auction race at Phoenix Park on another of Magnier’s fillies, Lagolette. He then notched a double on Lagolette and March Home on the final day of the Galway festival. Back at Waterford & Tramore on August 14, he won the Tramore Handicap for a second time on March Home.

As with so many successful apprentices, once the allowance runs out, so do the opportunities. Hence, by way of furthering his career, Benji crossed the Irish Sea in 1984 to ride for Don Plant, who was then ensconced as private trainer to Mel Brittain. Their flagship horse was Grey Desire, on whom Benji made a bright start by winning at Thirsk on April 14, following up with victories on Music Wonder at Edinburgh and Hamilton. He won twice on Grey Desire in June, firstly in the Thirsk Sprint Stakes and then, more importantly, in the Van Geest Stakes at Newmarket on the last day of the month.

Mel Brittain took over as trainer in 1985 and Benji rode Grey Desire to victory in the Listed Fairey Spring Trophy at Haydock on May 4. Thereafter, however, things did not work out and various jockeys, including Steve Cauthen, Pat Eddery, Willie Carson and Kevin Darley, came in for the ride on the stable’s standard-bearer. Rather than seeking employment elsewhere, Benji Coogan returned to Ireland where he resumed his career.

He did, however, return to win the 1992 Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot on the Irish raider Up And At 'Em.