Date of Birth: January 2, 1981
County of origin: Kildare
First winner: Loughmogue (Frank Berry) Navan, May 6, 1996
Final winner:Â Times Past (Henry Candy) Wolverhampton, January 19, 2019
Notable horses (Selected): Pathfork; Khayrawani; Thundering Blue; Kool Kompany; Dragon Pulse; Laughing Lashes; Duff; Curtain Call; Air Pilot;Â Pleaseletmewin;Â Queen Blossom;Â Jack Naylor;Â Bocca Baciata;Â Cat O'Mountain;Â Bible Belt;Â Hitchens; Ballybacka Lady; Snaefell;Â Rayeni; Jumbajukiba;Â Age Of Chivalry; Grecian Dancer;Â Noelani; Common World;Â Osterhase; Miss Sally; Behkiyra; Caradak; Mkuzi; Total Success.
Did you know:
Bred to be a jockey, Fran is a son of Classic-winning apprentice (Giolla Mea in the 1968 Irish St Leger) and subsequent 10-time champion National Hunt jockey, Frank Berry. Fran originally made his name as a jump jockey, winning the 1999 Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival on Khayrawani but is best known as a hugely respected Flat jockey.
He served as second rider, behind Michael Kinane at John Oxx's powerful Curragh stable from 2002 until the
end of 2009, when Kinane retired and Berry was promoted to the number one spot. But following the
appointment of Johnny Murtagh in 2011, he relinquished that role to become a freelance.
In 2016, Fran made the move across the Irish Sea to become stable jockey to Ralph Beckett. The arrangement ended in in
June, 2017, but Berry continued to be based in Britain. He
enjoyed a first Group 1 success on the Jessica Harrington-trained Pathfork in the 2010 National Stakes at the Curragh and also enjoyed notable success in Japan. He rode four Royal Ascot winners.
Fran announced his retirement from the saddle on Monday, April 1 on medical grounds. He said on the day, "For the past 23 years, I have got to live out my childhood dream of being a jockey.
"But following recent scans and discussions with my medical team headed by my surgeon Dr Mike Foy, as well as Dr Jerry Hill, I have to accept that the dream is now over and that due to the injuries sustained in Wolverhampton on January 29, I will not be able to make a return to race-riding. While this news is heartbreaking on one level, I am fully aware how lucky I am.
"Riding has been a fantastic adventure for me, and I am very grateful for the way it allowed my family and me to experience the world and gain many friends over that time."