Christy Roche
Multiple Irish champion jockey Christy Roche was born on December 3, 1949. He came from a farming background in South Tipperary and had never sat on a horse before becoming apprenticed to Paddy Prendergast.
Multiple Irish champion jockey Christy Roche was born on December 3, 1949. He came from a farming background in South Tipperary and had never sat on a horse before becoming apprenticed to Paddy Prendergast.
Nonetheless, he went on to carve out a highly successful 30-year career in the saddle. Seven times Ireland’s champion jockey, he is one of the few riders to have won the Irish, English and French Derbies, along with a host of other big race successes.
Nonetheless, he went on to carve out a highly successful 30-year career in the saddle. Seven times Ireland’s champion jockey, he is one of the few riders to have won the Irish, English and French Derbies, along with a host of other big race successes.
On home soil he won the Irish Derby three times, each for a different trainer: Assert (1982) for David O’Brien, St Jovite (1992) for Jim Bolger, and Desert King (1997) for Aidan O’Brien.
On home soil he won the Irish Derby three times, each for a different trainer: Assert (1982) for David O’Brien, St Jovite (1992) for Jim Bolger, and Desert King (1997) for Aidan O’Brien.
He won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on four occasions aboard Ballymore (1972), Nikoli (1980), the filly Triptych (1985) and Desert King (1997). He was a three-time winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sarah Siddons (1976), More So (1978) and Ridgewood Pearl (1995). He also won the Irish St Leger in 1974 on Mistigri.
He won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on four occasions aboard Ballymore (1972), Nikoli (1980), the filly Triptych (1985) and Desert King (1997). He was a three-time winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sarah Siddons (1976), More So (1978) and Ridgewood Pearl (1995). He also won the Irish St Leger in 1974 on Mistigri.
His Classic triumphs were not just confined to Ireland as he also partnered the David O’Brien-trained Secreto to a memorable 14-1 short-head victory over the hot favourite El Gran Senor in the 1984 Epsom Derby. In addition, he won the 1991 Epsom Oaks aboard Jim Bolger’s 50-1 outsider Jet Ski Lady. He also landed the French Derby in 1982 on David O’Brien's Assert.
His Classic triumphs were not just confined to Ireland as he also partnered the David O’Brien-trained Secreto to a memorable 14-1 short-head victory over the hot favourite El Gran Senor in the 1984 Epsom Derby. In addition, he won the 1991 Epsom Oaks aboard Jim Bolger’s 50-1 outsider Jet Ski Lady. He also landed the French Derby in 1982 on David O’Brien's Assert.
Christy rode what was to be his final winner on Second Empire, trained by Aidan O’Brien, in the Group 3 Desmond Stakes at the Curragh on August 15, 1998.
Christy rode what was to be his final winner on Second Empire, trained by Aidan O’Brien, in the Group 3 Desmond Stakes at the Curragh on August 15, 1998.
He announced his retirement, aged 48, after dismounting from High Stakes, who had finished second, beaten a head, in a one-mile maiden at Tralee on August 25, 1998. It was a comparatively low-key finish, which was just as he wanted it.
He announced his retirement, aged 48, after dismounting from High Stakes, who had finished second, beaten a head, in a one-mile maiden at Tralee on August 25, 1998. It was a comparatively low-key finish, which was just as he wanted it.
By the time of his retirement as a jockey he had already begun a career as a trainer, having taken out a licence a couple of years earlier. He went on to enjoy numerous major race successes. Among the big winners he trained in Ireland was Grimes in the 2001 Galway Plate. He trained three Cheltenham Festival winners: Khayrawani (1999 Coral Cup), Like-A-Butterfly (2002 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and Youlneverwalkalone (2003 William Hill Handicap Chase).
By the time of his retirement as a jockey he had already begun a career as a trainer, having taken out a licence a couple of years earlier. He went on to enjoy numerous major race successes. Among the big winners he trained in Ireland was Grimes in the 2001 Galway Plate. He trained three Cheltenham Festival winners: Khayrawani (1999 Coral Cup), Like-A-Butterfly (2002 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and Youlneverwalkalone (2003 William Hill Handicap Chase).
He retired as a trainer in January 2018 and handed over his training licence to his son, Padraig.
He retired as a trainer in January 2018 and handed over his training licence to his son, Padraig.