For a number of seasons now, Davy Moran has been established as one of Ireland’s most consistent reliable jockeys.
Principal Trainer: Jim Bolger
Notable Wins:
- Woodbine Oaks (Roan Inish 2010)
- Ballycorus Stakes (Six Of Hearts 2010)
- Salsabil Stakes (Akdarena 2010)
- Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Roan Inish 2009)
- Park Express Stakes (Oh Goodness Me 2009)
- Scurry Handicap (Rock Moss 2008)
- EBF Premier Nursery at Leopardstown (Bunsen Burner 2007)
- Galway Mile (Incline 2007)
- El Gran Senor Stakes (Zafonical Storm 2006, Rhythm´n Roots 2005)
- Guinness Gold Cup (Mrs Gillow 2006)
- Silver Stakes (Heliostatic 2006)
- Ulster Derby (Blue Corrig 2003)
He served his apprenticeship with the incomparable Jim Bolger, who has tutored such top-class jockeys as Tony McCoy, Paul Carberry and Mick Kinane in the past, so he certainly set out on the right path to having a successful career in the saddle. Despite his numerous big-race successes in recent seasons, Moran has remained with Bolger to this day, which is a testament to his loyalty, a trait that is all too rare in modern racing. Despite having ridden out his claim at Navan in June 2008, Moran has made a successful transition from a claimer to a fully-fledged jockey and continues to ride his share of winners.
Early Days
It was Frank Ennis that Moran was initially associated with, having his first ride in public for that yard on Forest Princess at Fairyhouse in August 1999. His workload increased significantly in 2000 and he got into the frame on no less than seven occasions without winning that term. However, after the conclusion of that season Moran made the significant decision to become an apprentice rider to Jim Bolger and in 2001, he soon began to get more and more rides. He had to be patient in his wait to ride his first winner, a feat he eventually accomplished on the Bolger-trained Margarula in a nursery at Thurles in November 2001. Little did he or indeed Bolger dare imagine it at that time, but that filly would go on to improve remarkably in the months that followed, culminating in a 33/1 success in the Irish Oaks.
Building A Reputation
2002 was a solid term for Moran, with him establishing himself as the first-choice claimer in the Bolger yard, as well as riding for numerous outside stables which helped raise his profile. In total, he rode four winners from 123 rides that season and the seeds were sown for further success down the line. 2003 saw Moran’s strike rate improve noticeably as the quality of his rides began to increase. He secured what was by far the biggest win of his career at that stage on the Joe Crowley-trained Blue Corrig in the Ulster Derby at Down Royal, gaining universal praise for what was a very positive ride. Unfortunately, his season was cut short as he fractured a leg in an accident at Jim Bolger’s Coolcullen yard in mid-August, which saw him ruled out for the remainder of the season. Up to that point, he had ridden nine winners from 119 rides.
The following season saw no such injury woes for Moran and he continued where he had left off before that injury, riding consistently well both for Bolger and for outside stables. Without doubt the highlight of his season was the profitable partnership he struck up with the Bolger-trained Addario, who he rode just three times and entered the winner’s enclosure on each occasion, including two valuable handicaps at Gowran Park. He also gained two successes apiece on the Brian Nolan-trained Time On Your Side and the Pat Carey-trained Black Turtle. At the conclusion of the season, Moran had once again ridden nine winners, this time from 175 rides.
Listed Success
In early-October in 2005, that season looked like proving slightly disappointing for Moran, as he had only ridden six winners from almost 200 rides to that point, but that all changed at Tipperary on October 2nd. Riding Rhythm´n Roots for his boss Jim Bolger in the Listed El Gran Senor Stakes, Moran executed a highly-polished front-running ride to prevail by ¾-length to gain his first ever Listed race success. While he failed to add to that win for the remainder of the season, it undoubtedly boosted his confidence and the following season would see him make an even bigger impression on the big-race scene.
2006 would prove to be a notable year for Moran as not only would it prove to be his busiest season in terms of rides taken, it would also prove to be his most successful season in terms of big-race winners. The first of those wins came on the quirky but talented Bolger inmate Heliostatic, whom Moran drive to a length success. He only had to wait another 10 weeks to gain his second big-race win of the season, partnering the Bolger-trained Mrs Gillow to a notable success in the valuable Guinness Gold Cup at Tralee and just six weeks later, he gained his second consecutive win in the Listed El Gran Senor Stakes at Tipperary when gaining an unlikely win on the 20/1 outside Zafonical Storm for English-based trainer Brendan Duke. That win wrapped up Moran’s most successful season to date, riding a total of 13 winners from 247 rides.
Best-Ever Season
Moran built on the promise of the seasons that had come before it to have his best ever season in 2007. The number of rides he took that year simply exploded, as did the number of winners he rode. He got the season off to the perfect start when winning the opening juvenile maiden of the season on the Brendan Duke-trained Sammy The Snake and things only got better from there. Moran gained what was the most lucrative and perhaps most high-profile win of his career thus far when riding the Ray McGlinchey-trained Incline to win the Galway Mile at the Galway Festival in late-July. That win was broadcast live on RTE and brought him to the attention of the wider racing public. He wrapped up the season with a valuable win on the Bolger-trained Bunsen Burner in a premier handicap at Dundalk in November. At the conclusion of the season, he rode a total of 25 winners from 430 rides.
Another Solid Campaign
The 2008 season started in excellent fashion for Moran and while he failed to match his tally of winners from 2007, it was a without doubt a successful term. He gained notable wins on the likes of Toirneach, Maiden Moch, Just For Mary and Forest Storm, but they all were surpassed by his win on Rock Moss in the prestigious Scurry Handicap at the Curragh on Irish Derby day. He gave the son of Rock Of Gibraltar a highly-polished ride and coming on one of the most high-profile days of the Irish Flat racing season, it certainly did his public profile no harm. At the season’s conclusion, he had ridden a total of 18 winners from 284 rides, achieving an almost identical strike rate to what he had the previous season.
A Fully-Fledged Jockey
2009 saw Moran consolidate his position in Jim Bolger’s stable, despite there being a number of talented apprentices based in the yard, and he continued to be successful in big races. Without doubt his most notable win of the season thus far came on the Bolger-trained Oh Goodness Me in the Group 3 Park Express Stakes at the Curragh on the opening day of the turf season and that filly gave him an excellent spin at the highest level when finishing third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas two months later. However, perhaps the most notable milestone for Moran this season came at Navan in June when, by riding Ard Na Greine to success in the valuable conditions race, he rode out his 3 lb claim and thus became a fully-fledged jockey. For many jockeys, losing their claim is the start of a downward spiral in opportunities, but Moran hit the ground running, as just two days after that win at Navan he gained his first winner as a fully-fledged jockey when riding the Michael Philips-trained Calle Aneto to success at Roscommon. He wrapped up what was a highly-satisfying campaign by riding Roan Inish, a former Jim Bolger inmate that was now trained by Tipperary native Carolyn Costigan in Canada, to the valuable Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine in Canada in October.
2010 was once again more about quality than quantity in terms of winners for Moran. Again, he began the season very strongly, winning the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Naas on the Bolger-trained Akdarena in April and the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown on the Cecil Ross-trained Six Of Hearts in May. However, just a few weeks later, Moran would gain the most lucrative win of his entire career. Once again riding the Carolyn Costigan-trained Roan Inish in Canada, the pairing won the prestigious Woodbine Oaks, which was worth CAN$500,000. It was a well-deserved success for Moran that was received very well back in Ireland.
Davy Moran is now well established as the number two jockey in Jim Bolger’s yard and looks set to continue to ride big-race winners for many seasons to come.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland - Updated January 2011
