Rory Cleary stood up at the wire and pumped his left fist. A pick-up ride, a pick-up win on a Tuesday evening at Roscommon. There aren’t many pumped fists on a Tuesday evening at Roscommon. This was a poignant punch.
Rory Cleary won the Sean Cleary Memorial Handicap aboard Thatwilldoso. The 65-rated 4-year-old filly settled and strolled, securing Cleary with his third win in his brother’s race. Sean Cleary died from head injuries suffered in a fall at Galway in 2003. He was 22.
This year, Rory Cleary didn’t have a ride in his brother’s race until Jamie Powell was stood down earlier in the day and trainer Kevin Coleman tabbed Cleary.
“Third time. It was great to get that spare ride in this race. To win it is very special,” Cleary said to Racing TV. “Fair play to Roscommon Racecourse for holding this memorial handicap in my brother’s name. It’s our local track, it means a lot, it’s a very special place to ride a winner.”
Yeah, you never know.
Sean Cleary’s son, Sean Cleary-Farrell, born two months after his father’s death, is a rising star in the steeplechase world. He’s won 12 races from 88 rides and has forged a relationship with champion trainer Willie Mullins.
A race earlier, jockey Chris Hayes won his 1,000th winner when he guided Starford to win the Conor Cassiday Car Sales Handicap. “Proud of it,” he said.
