Image © Healy Racing
Local handler Mary Whelehan was the toast of last Sunday’s card at Castletown-Geoghegan, as she produced a very popular local winner to the Shorthall International Transport older maiden.
Twelve months earlier, the race had been claimed by the fixture’s secretary Heather Kiernan, and for the second year in a row, the prize remained within the County Westmeath border when Big Tom scored for Mary Whelehan.
The Tyrellspass handler had not saddled a horse in the point-to-point arena since Close Connection had pulled up at Rathcannon 12 years earlier; however, she certainly made a triumphant return to the pointing sphere.
Her Big Tom had run three times on the track in maiden hurdles, most recently finishing eighth in a Sligo maiden hurdle in the spring.
The decision to go pointing with the grey son of Sageburg was immediately rewarded.
Sent off as a 10/1 outsider for the 15-runner finale at the Co. Westmeath venue, Brian Barry patiently bided his time.
Confidently produced to sweep around arrivals approaching the third-last fence, Big Tom struck the front climbing to the penultiatme obstacle, and once stealing a number of lengths on his rivals with a swift leap at that fence, there was only going to be one winner.
The pair safely negotiated the final fence to return five lengths clear of a staying on Roman Parish.
Following the victory, Whelehan explained that it was by pure chance that herself and her husband Andy came to acquire Big Tom.
“Myself and my husband went up to Fairyhouse one day for a day out,” she explained. “We had no intentions of buying, but my husband ended up coming home with him.”
“The size of him, I said to my husband, ‘How do you expect me to break him in?’
“But he was an absolute gentleman to work with since a three-year-old and always has been.
“I want to give huge thanks to Simon Cavanagh. I go and use his gallops, and Simon was bullish, he said ‘Mary he’ll get three miles, he’ll win the race, go and get your license.’
“Only for Simon, I wouldn’t be here.
“I have three horses in training. But I adore Big Tom. I ride him out every morning and he’s fabulous.
“I am from Tyrellspass so local to here, my husband is Andy Whelan he pays all the bills!
“We will stick to the point-to-points and go to a winners’ contest. I have to say a huge congratulations and thank you to jockey Brian Barry, he gave him a brilliant ride.”
