Irish-born jockey Adam Farragher has ticked off a career goal at Kembla Grange, celebrating his first Australian win aboard the Magic Millions-bound Spywire.
Farragher has been putting in the hard yards with champion trainer Ciaron Maher, who admits he has shown the 25-year-old some tough love before giving him an opportunity on Saturday’s impressive winner.
“We’ve made him earn it,” Maher said.
“He’s done trackwork every day since he’s gotten here. Probably something he’s not used to, and he has done a heap of trials and a lot of work between Warwick Farm and Bong Bong.
“We’ve had him on quite a few slow ones, just to make him earn his stripes. He trialled this one up and suggested he was going very well.
“He’s a strong jockey. He can ride any weight, and his feedback is very good.
“I think he’s got a bright future.”
Maher first met Farragher in Europe through a mutual friend, jockey Jamie Spencer.
Farragher had already had a taste of Sydney after being part of the team that travelled with the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour a couple of years ago and was keen to return to try to make a fist of things.
He was thrilled to land his breakthrough win at just his 17th local ride, adding Spywire’s class shone through as the gelding wasn’t at home on the softening track.
“Delighted. I’m very grateful to Ciaron and the team for giving me the opportunity and the owners for letting me ride him,” Farragher said,
“I was a little bit concerned about the rain. He’s a good-moving horse and I was worried he might find it a bit tough going. He handled the conditions well, I wouldn’t say he relished them.
“The wheels were spinning a little bit, and you’ll see him to much better effect on a firmer surface.”
A handy juvenile who placed behind Storm Boy in the 2024 Magic Millions Classic (1200m), Spywire’s first-up win has earned him another trip to the Gold Coast, this time for the Magic Millions Sprint in January.
Lumping topweight of 61kg, Spywire ($10) scored by three-quarters of a length over Hawker Hall ($4.60 fav) with Couples Retreat ($5) another three lengths away third.
