Next Generation | Rider
Name: Tommy Mahon
Age: 20
Area: Carlow Town
Tommy Mahon is the latest rider to feature in our Next Generation feature following his first career success between the flags at Damma House on Sunday aboard the Tony Mullins-trained Man On The Run in the five-and-six-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The 20-year-old rides out for Tony Mullins full-time and hopes to build on this initial career success in the near future.
Are you from a racing background?
I’m not from a racing background but my father always brought me racing mainly to Punchestown. We would go to the Festival and the new year’s eve meeting and that's where my interest came from. I started to ride out for Pat Fahy about three or four years ago, he’s only down the road from me, and that’s where I gained my experience from.
Where are you based at the moment?
I used to ride out for Sam Curing in the mornings and go to Tony Mullins in the afternoons, but last May Tony asked me to go full-time with him so I have been with him since then.
You were delighted with your win on Sunday?
I was delighted to ride the winner for Tony on Sunday. Man On The Run is the yard favourite so I was happy to get the opportunity to ride him. We were expecting him to run well and hoping he would come on from the run so we were thrilled when he came home first.
Do you school or ride out for anyone else?
I help out Brian O’Connell a good bit when I am free. He runs a breaking and pre-training yard across the road from the track at Damma House. He’s very good at what he does and is a top man.
Have you ambitions for this season?
I would love to ride a four-year-old winner by the end of the season and stay injury free. My aim is to take each day as it comes, try and get as may rides as possible for the season and to mind my weight.
What do you think about the opportunities for novice rider point-to-pointing?
Normally each weekend there’s only one race for novice riders it would be great if there was one race per fixture for novice riders as this would create more opportunities for the riders.
How about another rider you think might be up-and-coming?
My good friend Jack Hogan, who also had a winner at the weekend and another friend of mine Adam Feeney, are both are riders to watch out for.
Give us a horse to watch out for?
Tony has a couple of really nice horses in the yard, he has a really nice four-year-old by Martaline, we think a lot of her but she won’t run until after Christmas. He also has a really nice four-year-old gelding by Stowaway. He looks to be a promising sort and we are looking forward to him running.
Who has been your biggest influence in racing?
Pat Fahy's son Connor helped me out a good bit when I was starting out. He’s based over in Australia now but he was a great help to me .
Do you do any sport outside of racing?
I used to play a good bit of Football about two or three years ago but when I took out my licence I gave it up as I began focusing on watching my weight and I now do a lot of running and swimming.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
Keep your eyes and your ears open, your mouth shut and keep the head down.
