Browne McMonagle believes in Sons And Lovers

By J A McGrath

A week is a long time in racing. Just ask Dylan Browne McMonagle, the ex-pony racer from Donegal who won the Irish jockeys’ championship last year at the tender age of 22.

Browne McMonagle set off from Joseph O’Brien’s stable at Owning Hill, Co Kilkenny, six days ago, knowing he had four high-quality rides at the Breeders’ Cup in Keeneland. He was also heading off to ride the favourite in the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington.

Mega races at world class meetings, drawing the crowds and media attention. Something to dream about. Oh, how it all changed in the space of 24 hours at the weekend!

On Friday, Folsom Blues was beaten by Haffner in the Juvenile Turf…and Green Empress had no answers to the dominance of Sun Goddess in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. Aidan O’Brien bowled over son Joseph’s key chances in two strokes on the first day at Keeneland.

Then came a real body blow for Browne McMonagle. On Saturday morning, his one-time Melbourne Cup favourite Defiantly failed the compulsory veterinary inspection and was ruled unfit to run in the ‘race that stops a nation.’ There had been an issue with his right hind.

But all is not lost, as the Irishman switches to stablemate Sons And Lovers, with Ryan Moore - who had originally been booked to ride - aborting his Australian plans and heading home to Britain. Joseph O'Brien will still saddle five runners in the Melbourne Cup, as another stablemate in Kizlyar, the Ascot Stakes winner, has now gained a run.

Youthful ambition is driving Browne McMonagle on this international journey of three legs and almost 24 hours flying time to get to his destination Down Under for his first Melbourne Cup ride. He will fly from Lexington to Dallas to Brisbane, then onto his final stop Melbourne.

I thought it a good idea to relate my personal experience, saying that when completing the Breeders' Cup-Melbourne Cup double 11 times reporting for the Telegraph, I had found it torturous. The young jockey pointed out that he is several decades younger than yours truly…and that he doesn’t drink - ouch!

Browne McMonagle is one of those younger sportsmen, who seems a lot older and wiser than the date on his passport might indicate. So, unsurprisingly, his appreciation of the Melbourne Cup and all it represents, particularly to Australians, is deep.

That he had a stint in Melbourne and Sydney two years ago, during which he rode 11 winners, was always going to help. It shouldn’t have surprised me.

“The Melbourne Cup is one of those big races in the world that everyone watches. Obviously, in Australia it’s huge, and it would mean a lot to win it.

"I’ve been watching it for many years, and I’m lucky teaming up with Joseph, who has won it twice. That’s a very hard thing to do, but he’s done it.”

Since Dermot Weld took Vintage Crop on his pioneering journey to Melbourne 33 years ago - becoming the first European-trained winner of the Cup - much has been written about the achievement. But in many quarters, there’s still a tendency to view the Cup purely in a racing context, as a two-mile handicap on the flat for horses who don’t usually win Group 1 races.

To many outsiders, there’s still a lack of understanding of where the Melbourne Cup sits in the sporting and cultural heritage of Australia. But as Browne McMonagle emphasised: “Joseph gets it…he’s been there before.”

Sons And Lovers, one of Joseph O'Brien’s five runners, carries the colours of the H O S Syndicate, formed several years ago by the late Andrew Heffernan to bring together the grandchildren he and his wife Margaret were encouraging to come racing. Kizlyar is also in their ownership.

Browne McMonagle has ridden Sons And Lovers five times for three wins, which included the Red Sea Turf in Riyadh and the Prix Maurice de Nieuil at ParisLongchamp - both races where reserves of stamina are called upon.

The gelding is currently available at around 23.00 (22-1) in the betting.

“It’s my first time riding in a Melbourne Cup, and while I’ve watched plenty of videos to prepare, every race is different. I was impressed by Twilight Payment (2020) when he won for Joseph O'Brien and Lloyd Williams,” the Irishman pointed out.

“Ryan Moore was very patient on Protectionist (2014)…he knew when to go. It was like he’d just joined in in the home straight. One thing about Ryan, he never panics.”

Summing up his chances on Sons And Lovers, he is positive: “We’re going there to win. I’m very excited. I’m in Melbourne, I’ll be riding at Flemington on Cup Day, Oaks Day, and Champions Day. After that, I’m back home to Ireland before heading out to Bahrain for their big races.”

Dylan Browne McMonagle is an international jockey with the youth, drive and talent to star on the world stage for a long time to come.

Ciaron Maher sends out seven runners in the Melbourne Cup, including the 6.50 favourite Point Of Law, with Ethan Brown set to ride the ex-John and Thady Gosden-trained three-year-old who was bred by HM The King. The son of Frankel won the Geelong Cup, a key lead-up race, 10 days ago on only his fifth start.

Maher also flags up lightweight Shockletz (11.00) as a major each-way chance.

Owner J P McManus, who has made the trip over to Melbourne, has the second-favourite Trustyourinstinct (9.00), who will be partnered by James McDonald, as well as last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes (31.00), with Wayne Lordon aboard.

George Boughey will saddle Wathnan’s Hopewell Rock (12.00), the mount of Zac Lloyd, while Roger Varian has the Ray Dawson-ridden Enfjaar (21.00) and Harry Charlton sends out Wine Dark Sea (61.00), with Damian Lane in the saddle.