Notable Winners:
Coolmore Stud Home of Champions Concorde Stakes – 2008 – Psalm
Nolan & Brophy Auctioneers Silver Stakes – 2008 – Hindu Kush
Sean Levey, apprentice rider for Ballydoyle, arrived in Ireland at the age of 13 with his parents and younger brother, Declan. His father, Mickey, was an Englishman who rode professionally in Britain before heading off to travel the world. He ended up landing in Swaziland where he met his wife, Tini, had his two sons, and set up the country’s first racecourse.
In 2001, the Levey family decided to move to Ireland, and although Co. Tipperary was a long way from South Africa, they settled in right away and Mickey took up a job as an exercise rider for Ballydoyle. The boys got their foot in the door of Irish racing when they proved successful in the pony racing ranks; under the guidance of Tony Beegan in Ballinrobe Declan finished Irish junior pony racing champion and Sean was runner-up in the senior division.
Three short years later, in April 2005, Sean was fresh out of pony racing when he was legged up on South Wind Rising at the Curragh; it was his first ride as apprentice for Ballydoyle. In that same year, Sean rode his first winner on Beauty Bright at Cork after Kieran Fallon got sick on the day and handed over the mount. He had ridden Beauty Bright as a yearling and knew her well, also caring for her during evening stables and taking her racing (as a stable lad) in the afternoons he was not on board. In 2006 Sean was given back the mount on Beauty Bright in the Boylesports Irish 1,000 Guineas, she did not stay the trip, but a valuable experience, as it was his first Group One.
In 2006 and 2007 Sean continued his success, racking up 12 wins, three of which were on Paris Sue, trained by Marcus Callaghan. In 2008 he rode nine winners; amongst those was a horse named Malibu Bay, who Sean rode as a yearling and has seen progress through his career at Ballydoyle. Race riding in the afternoons is only one aspect of Sean’s daily life. In the mornings he is busy riding out at Ballydoyle and working with many of the up-and-coming Coolmore yearlings and two-year-olds; allowing Sean to learn the horses inside and out. When he is not riding races, Sean is back at the stables in the evenings, rounding up the day with the rest of the crew.
Sean is very content with the way things have panned out, and at this point he simply continues to work hard, learn and wait patiently to see how things fall into place in the future.
Horse you would most like to ride
The way things are going this year, Freemantle.
Mentor
Too many to name, I take little bits from a lot of people.
Biggest ambition
Start by winning any Group One, and then go from there.
Favourite movie
Chopper
Favourite racecourse
The Curragh, where all the Classics happen. I rode one of my big winners there – Hindu Kush in 2008. I enjoy the flat race meetings at Leopardstown too.
What do you do to relax
Sleep
