Chris Meehan savours a weekend to remember

By Jordan Gerrans

Chris Meehan has ridden a metropolitan winner in Queensland as well as claiming big-time victories back home in Europe, but those did not give him the unique feeling he experienced at Ipswich on Saturday afternoon.

The native Irishman took the leap into being a dual-licensed trainer and jockey in the middle of stages of 2022 and while he was riding winners for other trainers, he was yet to breakthrough for his own stable.

The 28-year-old finally got there on Saturday afternoon at the Bundamba-based track, before following it up around 24 hours later with his second victory as a trainer at the Sunshine Coast.

The Deagon-based horseman was successful in prestigious races in Ireland and England while riding – in the jumps and on the flat – but he declared Rocked’s maiden triumph over 1690 metres was as surreal an emotion he has enjoyed in the industry.

“I have ridden a lot of winners at big tracks and in big races back home, but I have not a bigger kick out of riding a winner than I did on Saturday,” Meehan said on Wednesday morning.

“Even though it was a little maiden around Ipswich, with it being the second meeting on a Saturday in Queensland, I got such a big kick out of riding that myself.

“Myself and my partner do all the work in the background ourselves and I really took a chance on this horse.

“He was unraced when I got him but I really liked him.

“I got the horse doing things my way after they could not get him going in Victoria and he has done nothing but progress in every single run I have had with him.

“I always believed he had ability as he is well-bred but he just needed to mentally mature and grow that confidence to allow himself to go and shine.”

The son of Fastnet Rock – Rocked - was dominant in his maiden win, sneaking up the inside fence to score by two lengths.

While it was special to earn his maiden victory as a trainer, Meehan was grateful to be able to share the excitement with several friends and connections at the track on Saturday, many of which are in the ownership of a galloper for the first time.

The dual-licensed Meehan did not have to wait long to grab his second triumph as a trainer with Gallery Master winning, also in maiden grade, at Caloundra the next day.

He was in the saddle himself on Saturday, before Corey Bayliss did the steering the following day. 

Looking back on the weekend results, Meehan says he was more confident Gallery Master was a winning hope in the lead-up to their runs.

“I was just happy to be able to ride my first winner as a trainer myself,” Meehan said.

“Corey Bayliss – who rode my horse on Sunday – is a good mate of mine and I would not want him having that over me that he rode the first winner for my stable (laughs).”

Meehan only intended to live in Australia for a year when he arrived in September of 2019 but he has built a growing stable in Brisbane’s north and he is set to remain.

He was granted permanent residency in December of last year and is aiming to build up his team of gallopers.

Meehan has three in work at Deagon and is aiming to take on more horses in the near future.  

After battling a number of serious injuries from riding back in Europe, Meehan was planning to take a break and not be involved in racing when he moved out to Australia.

But, that idea quickly changed and he is aiming to be involved in the industry for the long-haul now.  

“We just fell in love with Australia,” Meehan said of himself and his partner.

“I packed my helmet and my body protector just in case and I have not done anything but ride horses since I have been here.

“We are here to stay now.

“I am starting to take one or two more extra client horses and hopefully go from there.”

The newcomer to the Sunshine State riding ranks picked up 17 winners in his first two seasons in Australia before taking out his dual licence.

Moving into training was something Meehan always dreamed of but never thought it would be sustainable back home in Europe.

He enjoyed breaking in, pre-training and riding work, on top of his race day commitments, which mainly came in jumps racing where he grew up.

“I always got on well with horses from that side of things, looking after horses, not just so much riding work and going home,” Meehan said.

“I like being very hands-on.

“But, in Ireland and England, it is not financial viable.

“I always put it to the back of my mind and I could not see myself doing it at home.

“So, when I came to Australia, I intended to take a step back from horses for a year or so but I found myself taking out my jockeys licence again and having a crack.”

Meehan started out training stayer Alludere in July of last year before adding his two recent winners to his barn from online purchases.

“The plan was to get a few tried horses who had not done a lot and were still maidens,” he said.

“I wanted to bring them up this way and improve them a bit.

“I was able to pick up a few cheap ones and they both have had seven runs each and both have now won their maidens, as well as finishing in the first three a few times before that.”

Meehan has two rides at Ipswich on Wednesday afternoon before taking two more engagements at Dalby on Friday.