Name: Carl Millar
Age: 18
From: Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin
It was a red-letter day for 18-year-old Carl Millar who partnered his first winner between the flags aboard the Gordon Elliott-trained Out Sam in the colours of the Cullentra House Stable Staff Syndicate.
Millar a native from Blanchardstown, was having his first ride in a point-to-point, having had his first ride in a bumper at Listowel last month aboard the Nigel Slevin-trained Memories Never Die.
How did you get started with horses?
I started riding horses bareback in Blanchardstown on street ponies. I was then working in a yard breaking and pre-training and doing a bit of buying and selling.
My first experience with racehorses was when I joined point-to-point trainer Cian Hughes in Kilcock for a season. He got me prepared to go to Gordon’s, so I had my eye in for when I joined Gordon.
When I joined the Cullentra House Stables team, Gordon was very good to me. He had me doing plenty of schooling every day and I’ve come on leaps and bounds since I started.
I get great support from all the staff which is big a help to me, it’s great riding out with top class jockeys. You learn plenty from them and they are great giving you advice and they are all more than happy to help you.
Working in Gordon’s Out Sam is probably a horse you know well, were you confident of a big run heading into Sunday?
I have actually only ridden Out Sam on a couple of occasions at home as it’s Catriona who usually rides him out every day.
He is a great ride and all the girls in the yard love riding him out. I knew from riding him at home that he gives you a lovely feel and is a good jumper.
I was looking forward to riding him on Sunday, my aim was to switch him off, let him enjoy himself and take my time and ensure he stayed the three miles.
He will be a nice horse for the season, he will come on plenty from his run on Sunday and will be one to look forward to for the remainder of the season.
Gordon was very easy with the instructions, he just told me to take my time and most importantly I was to enjoy myself, so there was no pressure.
Where are you based at the moment?
I work full-time for Gordon I am here from 7.30 to 4.30 and then I go into Nigel Slevin's in the evening to give him a hand.
Nigel has also been very good to me, he gave me my first ride a bumper a couple of weeks ago at Listowel.
What are your ambitions for remainder of the season?
Hopefully to get as many rides as I can and get as much experience and take it from there.
What do you think of the additional 5lb claim for riders with less than 5 winners in novice races?
I think it’s a great help especially for the open horses and the older horses it gives them a chance too, carrying a lower weight.
Is there any rider in particular that you think people should watch out for?
Luke McGuinness is great friend of mine and he will be back riding soon and hopefully he will be back with a bang.
He has been a great help to me, he was the one that actually got me the ride on Nigel’s horse. He has been with me every step of the way and helped me with all my gear on my first day.
Who would have been your biggest influence in racing?
Jamie Codd, Davy Russell and Jack Kennedy they are top-class riders, I love watching them ride you can see that they are just on a different level. You can learn plenty from just watching them.
They are all so approachable, I was schooling with Jack the other morning and he was telling me how to ride Out Sam and what do and also to just enjoy myself. He definitely had a part to play in my success on Sunday.
They are a great bunch at Cullentra, all the staff have been so good me, if you need anything at all or any advice you could approach any of them and they would help you out.
Do you have any other interests outside of racing?
I’m fairly busy with work at present but when hunting starts back up and I will try and get out with the Ward Union or the North Kildare Farmers. I love hunting it’s great sport and it’s a good way to keep your eye in.
