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Daragh John O'Donohoe was born in Dublin on September 24 1972.
Daragh John O'Donohoe was born in Dublin on September 24 1972.
We first saw him on an English racecourse when, on Saturday, June 25, 1994, he rode Cliveden Gail in the televised Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
We first saw him on an English racecourse when, on Saturday, June 25, 1994, he rode Cliveden Gail in the televised Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.
That was the last English racegoers saw of him until 1997 when, on 3 April, he rode Safey Ana for trainer Ben Hanbury at Leicester.
That was the last English racegoers saw of him until 1997 when, on 3 April, he rode Safey Ana for trainer Ben Hanbury at Leicester.
That season, riding principally for trainer Ed Dunlop, he rode his first English winner: Latalomne, on 8 April, at Nottingham.
That season, riding principally for trainer Ed Dunlop, he rode his first English winner: Latalomne, on 8 April, at Nottingham.
Before the end of the year he had ridden sixteen more, giving him a respectable score for his first full season.
Before the end of the year he had ridden sixteen more, giving him a respectable score for his first full season.
One of these came in the You Handicap at Newbury on Sunday May 18.
One of these came in the You Handicap at Newbury on Sunday May 18.
Riding Grand Cru, with the noseband, he held off Thaijanah by a short head.
Riding Grand Cru, with the noseband, he held off Thaijanah by a short head.
However, the win came at a price for Daragh: he was suspended for three days (May 27-29) for careless riding. On the day he resumed riding - Friday May 30 - he landed the group three Benazet Rennen at Baden-Baden for Ed Dunlop on Monaassib.
However, the win came at a price for Daragh: he was suspended for three days (May 27-29) for careless riding. On the day he resumed riding - Friday May 30 - he landed the group three Benazet Rennen at Baden-Baden for Ed Dunlop on Monaassib.
Dunlop then sent the horse to France and, again ridden by Daragh, it won the group three Prix de Ris-Orangis over six furlongs. (Monday, July 15.) Always in the front rank, the gelding showed a useful turn of foot to repel the Pertemps 2,000 Guineas fifth Zamindar by threequarters of a length. This was its fifth success in six starts that season.
Dunlop then sent the horse to France and, again ridden by Daragh, it won the group three Prix de Ris-Orangis over six furlongs. (Monday, July 15.) Always in the front rank, the gelding showed a useful turn of foot to repel the Pertemps 2,000 Guineas fifth Zamindar by threequarters of a length. This was its fifth success in six starts that season.
Following a fall on the gallops, Daragh was forced to give up his rides at Folkestone (August 19). His agent, Martin Raymond, said: 'He had a fall at work. He's just a bit bruised but otherwise he's okay.'
Following a fall on the gallops, Daragh was forced to give up his rides at Folkestone (August 19). His agent, Martin Raymond, said: 'He had a fall at work. He's just a bit bruised but otherwise he's okay.'
On Saturday, May 16, the following year, riding in the Godolphin colours, Daragh emphasized his growing talent with a resounding success on 20/1 shot Cape Cross at Newbury in the prestigious Juddmonte Stakes.
On Saturday, May 16, the following year, riding in the Godolphin colours, Daragh emphasized his growing talent with a resounding success on 20/1 shot Cape Cross at Newbury in the prestigious Juddmonte Stakes.
Having left school at 15, Daragh came to Godolphin as Ireland's joint champion apprentice (with Seamus Heffernan) after serving his apprenticeship with Dermot Weld and a first full season in England with Ed Dunlop.
Having left school at 15, Daragh came to Godolphin as Ireland's joint champion apprentice (with Seamus Heffernan) after serving his apprenticeship with Dermot Weld and a first full season in England with Ed Dunlop.
On June 1 that year, it was the Italians turn to witness first hand Daragh's stunning progress: again riding for Godolphin, he won the Derby Italiano in Rome on Central Park. Daragh's mount, always in the front rank, quickened to beat the German raider, Nadour Al Bahr by a length.
On June 1 that year, it was the Italians turn to witness first hand Daragh's stunning progress: again riding for Godolphin, he won the Derby Italiano in Rome on Central Park. Daragh's mount, always in the front rank, quickened to beat the German raider, Nadour Al Bahr by a length.
Daragh rode 15 winners in Britain in 1998, but he will probably remember the season more for the seven-day ban he received in October for 'making insufficient effort' - as the stewards put it - on the filly Silken Dalliance which had run down the field at Newbury (with Daragh on board) before winning a valuable handicap at Ascot.
Daragh rode 15 winners in Britain in 1998, but he will probably remember the season more for the seven-day ban he received in October for 'making insufficient effort' - as the stewards put it - on the filly Silken Dalliance which had run down the field at Newbury (with Daragh on board) before winning a valuable handicap at Ascot.
Daragh described himself as 'disappointed' with the outcome but did not appeal. When asked if he felt that he'd been made a scapegoat, he was beaten to an answer by his solicitor, Andrew Chalk, who replied: 'That's a difficult question to answer. I think it's best to say nothing.'
Daragh described himself as 'disappointed' with the outcome but did not appeal. When asked if he felt that he'd been made a scapegoat, he was beaten to an answer by his solicitor, Andrew Chalk, who replied: 'That's a difficult question to answer. I think it's best to say nothing.'
That hiccup aside, there was no doubt that Daragh had found success early, but not, initially, the way to deal with it.
That hiccup aside, there was no doubt that Daragh had found success early, but not, initially, the way to deal with it.
'I had a few issues when I was younger' he admitted. 'It all happened too quick for me and I kind of, not exactly went off the rails, but had I a couple of problems and let it go to my head and that went against me.'
'I had a few issues when I was younger' he admitted. 'It all happened too quick for me and I kind of, not exactly went off the rails, but had I a couple of problems and let it go to my head and that went against me.'
Daragh tackled those problems head-on, changing a lot of aspects of his life and career in order to get back on track.
Daragh tackled those problems head-on, changing a lot of aspects of his life and career in order to get back on track.
He succeeded, but not without no little help from Godolphin.
He succeeded, but not without no little help from Godolphin.
'I cannot thank them enough. If they hadn't stuck by me I probably wouldn't be in racing now.' he conceded.
'I cannot thank them enough. If they hadn't stuck by me I probably wouldn't be in racing now.' he conceded.
In September 2008, Godolphin put him up on Happy Boy in the £212,500 Anatolia Stakes in the inaugural Turkish International Racing Festival.
In September 2008, Godolphin put him up on Happy Boy in the £212,500 Anatolia Stakes in the inaugural Turkish International Racing Festival.
Daragh was also regularly called on by Doug Watson, who won his second UAE trainers' title that March.
Daragh was also regularly called on by Doug Watson, who won his second UAE trainers' title that March.
In late February, 2010, Daragh shattered his left wrist when involved in a pile-up in a race in Abu Dhabi: he did exactly the same thing the following month while riding out for Amy Weaver.
In late February, 2010, Daragh shattered his left wrist when involved in a pile-up in a race in Abu Dhabi: he did exactly the same thing the following month while riding out for Amy Weaver.
These injuries came on top of a dislocated shoulder and broken sternum suffered in a fall at Nad Al Sheba in December 2009.
These injuries came on top of a dislocated shoulder and broken sternum suffered in a fall at Nad Al Sheba in December 2009.
Daragh last rode in England, at Lingfield, on June 22, 2013.
Daragh last rode in England, at Lingfield, on June 22, 2013.
His last winner in England was Somemothersdohavem at Kempton Park on 8 September, 2012.
His last winner in England was Somemothersdohavem at Kempton Park on 8 September, 2012.
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