Brendan Mooney
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Brendan Mooney was born in Mullingar, and came to England aged 14 to serve his apprenticeship with the Queen’s trainer Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort at Newmarket.
Brendan Mooney was born in Mullingar, and came to England aged 14 to serve his apprenticeship with the Queen’s trainer Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort at Newmarket.
Wednesday, July 18, 1956 was a great day in Brendan’s life, for the thrill of riding his first winner was further enhanced by it being gained wearing the royal colours, on Her Majesty the Queen’s Opera Score in the Landbeach Apprentice Handicap on the second day of Newmarket’s July meeting.
Wednesday, July 18, 1956 was a great day in Brendan’s life, for the thrill of riding his first winner was further enhanced by it being gained wearing the royal colours, on Her Majesty the Queen’s Opera Score in the Landbeach Apprentice Handicap on the second day of Newmarket’s July meeting.
That was his only winner for Captain Boyd-Rochfort because the following year he left Newmarket, his indentures being transferred to Jack Ormston at Richmond in Yorkshire. With more opportunities in the North he rode four winners that year, all for Ormston, the first of them on Heckley at Lanark on July 18, 1957, exactly one year to the day since his only previous success.
That was his only winner for Captain Boyd-Rochfort because the following year he left Newmarket, his indentures being transferred to Jack Ormston at Richmond in Yorkshire. With more opportunities in the North he rode four winners that year, all for Ormston, the first of them on Heckley at Lanark on July 18, 1957, exactly one year to the day since his only previous success.
But it was not until 1958 that his capabilities really became recognised, when he rode 22 winners, all bar three of them trained by Jack Ormston, placing him joint-sixth in the apprentices’ table. A golden summer saw him ride 15 winners during July and August, including the historic Carlisle Bell on Heckley on July 4.
But it was not until 1958 that his capabilities really became recognised, when he rode 22 winners, all bar three of them trained by Jack Ormston, placing him joint-sixth in the apprentices’ table. A golden summer saw him ride 15 winners during July and August, including the historic Carlisle Bell on Heckley on July 4.
Young Brendan was a hard worker and success certainly did not go to his head, as Cope’s Racegoer’s Encyclopaedia reflects: “At the Redcar July meeting, for instance, he rode a winner on each of the first two days and capped this with a double on the last day. Yet his only reaction was to go to Jack Ormston after he had changed out of his silks and say ‘I must get back now, sir, to give them a hand with the haymaking.’”
Young Brendan was a hard worker and success certainly did not go to his head, as Cope’s Racegoer’s Encyclopaedia reflects: “At the Redcar July meeting, for instance, he rode a winner on each of the first two days and capped this with a double on the last day. Yet his only reaction was to go to Jack Ormston after he had changed out of his silks and say ‘I must get back now, sir, to give them a hand with the haymaking.’”
He rode another double at Beverley in August on Tommy Dent’s two-year-old Sir Ian and Jack Ormston’s Nautical Lad. Later that month he won the Champion Apprentice Handicap at Carlisle on Two Blues.
He rode another double at Beverley in August on Tommy Dent’s two-year-old Sir Ian and Jack Ormston’s Nautical Lad. Later that month he won the Champion Apprentice Handicap at Carlisle on Two Blues.
The flow of winners slowed with the arrival of autumn but it also provided the biggest winner of his career, the Stockton Autumn Handicap on Nautical Lad. His final victory of that memorable year came on Second Attempt in the Woodlands Nursery Handicap at Manchester’s season-ending fixture on Thursday, November 13, 1958. Nobody could have guessed that that would be the last Brendan Mooney would ever ride in Britain.
The flow of winners slowed with the arrival of autumn but it also provided the biggest winner of his career, the Stockton Autumn Handicap on Nautical Lad. His final victory of that memorable year came on Second Attempt in the Woodlands Nursery Handicap at Manchester’s season-ending fixture on Thursday, November 13, 1958. Nobody could have guessed that that would be the last Brendan Mooney would ever ride in Britain.
Following his successful 1958 campaign, Brendan Mooney quickly disappeared from the scene after he lost his allowance. Following several years in obscurity, he reappeared as a freelance on April 22, 1967, riding Kilgobbin at Newbury for Major Peter Nelson, finishing unplaced in a 36-runner three-year-old maiden. He came close to ending his long barren spell at Chepstow on Whit Monday, May 29, 1967 when he finished second, beaten a head, aboard On Circuit.
Following his successful 1958 campaign, Brendan Mooney quickly disappeared from the scene after he lost his allowance. Following several years in obscurity, he reappeared as a freelance on April 22, 1967, riding Kilgobbin at Newbury for Major Peter Nelson, finishing unplaced in a 36-runner three-year-old maiden. He came close to ending his long barren spell at Chepstow on Whit Monday, May 29, 1967 when he finished second, beaten a head, aboard On Circuit.
That was the only time On Circuit was placed all season. It may have been some consolation to Brendan that Lester Piggott had ridden her in her previous start and Scobie Breasley was on board for her next race but neither was able to get her as close to winning as he did that day. However, it was also as close to winning as Brendan came during his return to race riding. He carried on for just one more season, in 1968, before relinquishing his licence.
That was the only time On Circuit was placed all season. It may have been some consolation to Brendan that Lester Piggott had ridden her in her previous start and Scobie Breasley was on board for her next race but neither was able to get her as close to winning as he did that day. However, it was also as close to winning as Brendan came during his return to race riding. He carried on for just one more season, in 1968, before relinquishing his licence.
Brendan Mooney’s winners were, in chronological order:
Brendan Mooney’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Opera Score, Newmarket, July 18, 1956
1. Opera Score, Newmarket, July 18, 1956
2. Heckley, Lanark, July 18, 1957
2. Heckley, Lanark, July 18, 1957
3. St. Helens, Catterick Bridge, October 5, 1957
3. St. Helens, Catterick Bridge, October 5, 1957
4. Colindin, Stockton, October 19, 1957
4. Colindin, Stockton, October 19, 1957
5. Heckley. Manchester, November 14, 1957e
5. Heckley. Manchester, November 14, 1957e
6. Heckley, Newcastle, May 17, 1958
6. Heckley, Newcastle, May 17, 1958
7. Red Fuel, Beverley, June 4, 1958
7. Red Fuel, Beverley, June 4, 1958
8. Two Blues, Catterick Bridge, June 11, 1958
8. Two Blues, Catterick Bridge, June 11, 1958
9. Soche, Ayr, June 14, 1958
9. Soche, Ayr, June 14, 1958
10. Heckley, Carlisle, July 4, 1958e
10. Heckley, Carlisle, July 4, 1958e
11. Ryecroft, Doncaster, July 9, 1958
11. Ryecroft, Doncaster, July 9, 1958
12. Kachasu, Doncaster, July 10, 1958e
12. Kachasu, Doncaster, July 10, 1958e
13. Monawin, Hamilton Park, July 19, 1958
13. Monawin, Hamilton Park, July 19, 1958
14. Ulupi’s Sister, Redcar, July 29, 1958
14. Ulupi’s Sister, Redcar, July 29, 1958
15. Two Blues, Redcar, July 30, 1958
15. Two Blues, Redcar, July 30, 1958
16. St. Helens, Redcar, July 31, 1958
16. St. Helens, Redcar, July 31, 1958
17. Cupid’s Charge, Redcar, July 31, 1958
17. Cupid’s Charge, Redcar, July 31, 1958
18. Dollar Help, Thirsk, August 2, 1958
18. Dollar Help, Thirsk, August 2, 1958
19. Diagonal, Ripon, August 5, 1958
19. Diagonal, Ripon, August 5, 1958
20. Sir Ian, Beverley, August 13, 1958
20. Sir Ian, Beverley, August 13, 1958
21. Nautical Lad, Beverley, August 13, 1958
21. Nautical Lad, Beverley, August 13, 1958
22. Kachasu, Stockton, August 15, 1958
22. Kachasu, Stockton, August 15, 1958
23. Two Blues, Carlisle, August 28, 1958
23. Two Blues, Carlisle, August 28, 1958
24. Dollar Help, Lanark, August 30, 1958
24. Dollar Help, Lanark, August 30, 1958
25. Honeycomb Rock, Bogside, September 20, 1958
25. Honeycomb Rock, Bogside, September 20, 1958
26. Nautical Lad, Stockton, October 18, 1958
26. Nautical Lad, Stockton, October 18, 1958
27. Second Attempt, Manchester, November 13, 1958
27. Second Attempt, Manchester, November 13, 1958