Kevin Ryan
Born in Golden, Co Tipperary on 14 January 1967, Kevin Ryan was the youngest of eight children. From a non-racing background, he did a lot of show-jumping and had a few point-to-point rides.
Born in Golden, Co Tipperary on 14 January 1967, Kevin Ryan was the youngest of eight children. From a non-racing background, he did a lot of show-jumping and had a few point-to-point rides.
Leaving Ireland at fifteen he took out a conditional jockey’s licence and joined Roger Fisher’s Ulverston stable, later relocating to ride for Rugeley-based trainer Peter Smith. One of his earliest winners was 7-4 favourite Chi Mai for trainer John Norton in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Cartmel on August Bank Holiday Monday 1985.
Leaving Ireland at fifteen he took out a conditional jockey’s licence and joined Roger Fisher’s Ulverston stable, later relocating to ride for Rugeley-based trainer Peter Smith. One of his earliest winners was 7-4 favourite Chi Mai for trainer John Norton in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Cartmel on August Bank Holiday Monday 1985.
On 6 December 1985 he won a conditional jockeys’ handicap chase at Cheltenham on the Roger Fisher-trained Troilena. Troilena actually finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length by the Nicky Henderson-trained favourite Destiny Bay, but was awarded the race on an objection, the stewards deciding that Destiny Bay had crossed and squeezed the runner-up on the run-in.
On 6 December 1985 he won a conditional jockeys’ handicap chase at Cheltenham on the Roger Fisher-trained Troilena. Troilena actually finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length by the Nicky Henderson-trained favourite Destiny Bay, but was awarded the race on an objection, the stewards deciding that Destiny Bay had crossed and squeezed the runner-up on the run-in.
Another of Kevin’s early winners for Fisher was Telemeter Gem in a Southwell conditional jockeys’ hurdle in March 1986. Later that month he won a novice hurdle on Babslad on Market Rasen’s Easter Monday card.
Another of Kevin’s early winners for Fisher was Telemeter Gem in a Southwell conditional jockeys’ hurdle in March 1986. Later that month he won a novice hurdle on Babslad on Market Rasen’s Easter Monday card.
In May 1986, while still a 7lb claimer, he won three handicap hurdles in a row on the Ray Peacock-trained Patrick’s Fair. Also that month he scored a popular victory on the 15-year-old veteran chaser Master Melody at Warwick.
In May 1986, while still a 7lb claimer, he won three handicap hurdles in a row on the Ray Peacock-trained Patrick’s Fair. Also that month he scored a popular victory on the 15-year-old veteran chaser Master Melody at Warwick.
He made a bright start to the 1986/87 campaign, riding Kevin Morgan’s chaser Vale Challenge in back-to-back wins at Fontwell and Huntingdon during August, but found winners harder to come by as the season wore on.
He made a bright start to the 1986/87 campaign, riding Kevin Morgan’s chaser Vale Challenge in back-to-back wins at Fontwell and Huntingdon during August, but found winners harder to come by as the season wore on.
It was a similar story the following season. Despite a winner on both days of Cartmel’s August Bank Holiday fixture on selling hurdler Shout and handicap hurdler Eastern Player, he was unable to maintain the momentum throughout the winter months.
It was a similar story the following season. Despite a winner on both days of Cartmel’s August Bank Holiday fixture on selling hurdler Shout and handicap hurdler Eastern Player, he was unable to maintain the momentum throughout the winter months.
Although he enjoyed a degree of success as a jockey, riding a total of 47 winners, a lack of rides and injuries led Kevin to think about his future. Having decided to retire from the saddle, he went to work for top trainer Jack Berry, a man noted for his genius with two-year-olds and sprinters. Following six years there, Kevin moved to Yorkshire where he became assistant trainer to Richard Fahey, a long-time friend from their days riding.
Although he enjoyed a degree of success as a jockey, riding a total of 47 winners, a lack of rides and injuries led Kevin to think about his future. Having decided to retire from the saddle, he went to work for top trainer Jack Berry, a man noted for his genius with two-year-olds and sprinters. Following six years there, Kevin moved to Yorkshire where he became assistant trainer to Richard Fahey, a long-time friend from their days riding.
As the Fahey stable grew in strength and numbers, Kevin’s skill and knowledge did not go unnoticed and after four years an opportunity arose that would help him realise his ambition of becoming a trainer, when the historic Hambleton Lodge, near Thirsk, became available.
As the Fahey stable grew in strength and numbers, Kevin’s skill and knowledge did not go unnoticed and after four years an opportunity arose that would help him realise his ambition of becoming a trainer, when the historic Hambleton Lodge, near Thirsk, became available.
Kevin began training there in June 1998 and it was not long before he saddled his first winner, Komlucky, in the Willie Carson-Pinker’s Pind Apprentice Handicap at Catterick on 22 July 1998. He achieved his first Group race success when Eastern Purple won the Group 3 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on 22 May 1999.
Kevin began training there in June 1998 and it was not long before he saddled his first winner, Komlucky, in the Willie Carson-Pinker’s Pind Apprentice Handicap at Catterick on 22 July 1998. He achieved his first Group race success when Eastern Purple won the Group 3 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on 22 May 1999.
Like his mentor Jack Berry, he quickly gained a reputation as a successful trainer of two-year-olds and sprinters. He trained Halmahera to win three successive renewals of the ultra-competitive Portland Handicap in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Like his mentor Jack Berry, he quickly gained a reputation as a successful trainer of two-year-olds and sprinters. He trained Halmahera to win three successive renewals of the ultra-competitive Portland Handicap in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
In 2005 Amadeus Wolf landed the Middle Park Stakes, giving Kevin his first win at Group 1 level. He didn’t have to wait long before making it two top-level successes, with Palace Episode winning that year’s Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
In 2005 Amadeus Wolf landed the Middle Park Stakes, giving Kevin his first win at Group 1 level. He didn’t have to wait long before making it two top-level successes, with Palace Episode winning that year’s Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
In 2006 Kevin was the fastest trainer to send out 50 winners for the season. They included his first Royal Ascot success with Uhoomagoo in the Buckingham Palace Handicap. He also won that year’s Prix de L’Abbaye at Longchamp with Desert Lord.
In 2006 Kevin was the fastest trainer to send out 50 winners for the season. They included his first Royal Ascot success with Uhoomagoo in the Buckingham Palace Handicap. He also won that year’s Prix de L’Abbaye at Longchamp with Desert Lord.
Since then, the yard has grown considerably and Kevin has established his reputation among the leading trainers in Britain. His sprinters have continued to serve him well; so far (as of 2022) he has won the Ayr Gold Cup five times, Abernant Stakes four times, Wokingham twice, Breeders Cup Turf Sprint, Haydock’s Sprint Cup and Royal Ascot’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Since then, the yard has grown considerably and Kevin has established his reputation among the leading trainers in Britain. His sprinters have continued to serve him well; so far (as of 2022) he has won the Ayr Gold Cup five times, Abernant Stakes four times, Wokingham twice, Breeders Cup Turf Sprint, Haydock’s Sprint Cup and Royal Ascot’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
His big race successes with two-year-olds include the Middle Park Stakes, Acomb Stakes, Flying Childers Stakes and Cornwallis Stakes twice each, the Norfolk Stakes, Windsor Castle Stakes, Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy and several valuable two-year-old sales races.
His big race successes with two-year-olds include the Middle Park Stakes, Acomb Stakes, Flying Childers Stakes and Cornwallis Stakes twice each, the Norfolk Stakes, Windsor Castle Stakes, Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy and several valuable two-year-old sales races.
His highest-rated horse to date (as of 2022) has been The Grey Gatsby. In 2014, having won the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York, The Grey Gatsby added the Prix Du Jockey Club (French Derby) to give Kevin his first Classic winner, then added the Irish Champion Stakes, beating dual Derby winner Australia.
His highest-rated horse to date (as of 2022) has been The Grey Gatsby. In 2014, having won the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York, The Grey Gatsby added the Prix Du Jockey Club (French Derby) to give Kevin his first Classic winner, then added the Irish Champion Stakes, beating dual Derby winner Australia.
