Gary Carroll

Principal Trainers: Mick Halford, Michael Mulvany,

Gary CarrollNotable Wins:

  • Mercury Stakes (Invincible Ash 2010)
  • Abergwaun Stakes (Invincible Ash 2010)
  • Scurry Handicap (Invincible Ash 2010)
  • Irish Cesarewitch (Dani California 2009)
  • Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Autumn Fillies Handicap (Les Fazzani 2009)
  • Totesport Ebor (Sesenta 2009)
  • Summer Festival Handicap (The Tooth Fairy 2009)
  • Mill Tree Park Handicap (Bravely Fought 2009)
  • Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup Premier Handicap (Marias Dream 2009)
  • Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap (Marias Dream 2009)

A Racing Background

With his racing pedigree and successful pony racing background, it really should not be a surprise to anyone that Gary Carroll has been making the impact that he has been on the Irish racing scene in the last two seasons. He is the son of Raymond Carroll, who rode with success for John Oxx and Dermot Weld in his heyday, as well as winning the 1980 Irish St Leger on the Vincent O’Brien-trained Gonzales. He is also a grandson of Frankie Carroll, who was one of the top National Hunt riders in the 1960/70’s. Before beginning his career under rules, Carroll enjoyed two successful campaigns on the pony racing circuit, which proved an excellent training ground for him.

A Solid Start

Carroll had his first taste of racecourse action on the Mick Halford-trained Masamiyr in a12f apprentice handicap at the Curragh on October 21st 2007 and while he could only beat a few rivals home, the experience would stand him in good stead for his first full season in 2008. He had to be patient in his wait to get off the mark on the racecourse, finishing in the frame on five occasions before breaking his duck on the Dowdall Blake-trained Good Time Sue in a 7f handicap at Fairyhouse on June 26th. He soon added to his tally and gained his first win for Mick Halford when riding Man Of Aran to success in a 13f handicap at Downpatrick on July 14th. By the end of his first full season, Carroll had ridden a more than satisfactory six winners from 102 rides, with the highlights perhaps being his two wins on the Willie Mullins-trained Truxton King. That campaign laid the foundations for what would be a break-our season for Carroll in 2009.

A Championship Season

Carroll’s career took off in no uncertain terms in June 2009, with a tremendous run of form being kick started by him riding the Jimmy Coogan-trained Marias Dream to success in a valuable fillies handicap at the Curragh. A fortnight later he rode the first double of his career at Down Royal, with him partnering the Michael Mulvany-trained The Tooth Fairy to success in the 7f handicap before riding the Des McDonogh-trained Articilitis to win the 13f handicap. That proved to be just the beginning of his good fortunes as a little over a week later, he was back on Marias Dream and gained by far the biggest win of his career on her in the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup Premier Handicap on Derby day at the Curragh. Now very much riding a wave of momentum, Carroll continued his strong run of form into July, gaining notable wins on the Sabrina Harty-trained Bravely Fought in the Mill Tree Park Handicap at Fairyhouse and on the Michael Mulvany-trained The Tooth Fairy in the Summer Festival Handicap at Tipperary. He also had an excellent Galway Festival, riding three winners during the course of the week. Carroll had another memorable day just days later as he rode his first-ever treble at Naas, with the three wins coming for three different trainers.

Big-Race Glory

Carroll’s hot run of form was far from finished and just a matter of days later, he went to England to ride the Willie Mullins-trained Sesenta in the most valuable handicap in Britain, the Totesport Ebor. Sent off at 25/1, Carroll gave the diminutive mare a very cool ride, swooping with a telling late challenge to lead in the closing stages and prevail by a head. It was the biggest win of Carroll’s career and it is raised his profile no end. The good times continued to roll for Carroll and on Irish Champion Stakes day at Leopardstown, he partnered the Kevin Ryan-trained Les Fazzani to success in the valuable Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Autumn Fillies Handicap. At this stage, Carroll looked in charge in the race for the title of Champion Apprentice, but he kept riding as vigorously as ever and he put the finishing touches on the season by winning the Irish Cesarewitch on the Willie Mullins-trained Dani California. At the conclusion of proceedings, Carroll had claimed the Champion Apprentice title by a margin of no less than 11 winners and hopes were high that he could retain his title in 2010.

Reigning Champion

2010 was very much been a season of consolidation for Carroll. While the big-race wins have not flowed as they did in 2009, he has ridden a very consistent stream of winners throughout the campaign. His most lucrative partnership was with the Mick Halford-trained Invincible Ash, with him riding the progressive five-year-old to four successes, including the valuable Scurry Handicap at the Curragh and Listed race at Tipperary and Dundalk. Other Halford-trained runners that were profitable partners for him were Hawkhill and Desert Romance, with him riding both to three successes apiece. As had been the case in 2009, Carroll really raised his game in the latter half of the season, so much so that came from an unpromising position to share in the Apprentice Championship in the most dramatic of circumstances. With Joseph O’Brien having drawn level with Carroll and Ben Curtis on 39 winners with one race to go, Carroll swept to the front on the Noel Meade-trained Dark Prospect in the closing stages of the final race of the season only to be denied in the dying strides. Nevertheless, sharing the Championship was a superb achievement by Carroll in the circumstances.

Now a two-time Champion Apprentice, Gary Carroll is well established in the Irish weighing room and his success looks sure to continue for many years to come.

Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland - Updated January 2011