Image © Healy Racing
Name: Eric Mellerick
Age: 20
From: Killeagh, County Cork
How did you get involved with horses?
My dad Tom is a farrier and my mam Dara is a horse-riding instructor so I would have grown-up with horses all around me. Me and my sister Lucy would have been doing show-jumping all our lives. I came up through the ranks with 12.2 and 14.2 ponies and I competed in the 1m10 and 1m20 at a high level. I did a small bit of hunting and hunter trials etc. but show-jumping was always my main priority.
My dad always kept one or two pointers through the years and my aunts also kept a couple of racehorses. My aunts Ann and Mary Mellerick had a very good mare, She’s Got Grit who gave us some very memorable days out.
I always had an interest in racing and although I wanted to ride in pony racing, I rode in a couple of charity pony races at Dromahane and Mallow, and that was as close as I got to it!
My sister Lucy used to ride out at Johnny Hurley’s and when I was about 15-years-old I started going in on Saturdays while I was at school to ride out.
What was the first racehorse you ever sat on?
It was a mare of my dad’s called Dangan Diva. She won one point-to-point. She was only mediocre, but she was the first racehorse I ever sat on when I was five or six-years-old.
Where do you work full-time?
I am studying Business Information Systems at MTU in Cork and then I work around my college timetable to ride out.
I’m in Ken Budds’ one day a week, I go into Terence O’Brien one day a week, I call into Andrew Lee’s in the afternoons on the way back from college or after work and then we have three point-to-pointers in at home so I’m kept fairly busy.
How did the ride on Curraheen Queen come about?
I ride out with Patrick Leahy in Ken Budds’ and his uncle Batt Leahy owns her. I rode her three times last year and I was meant to ride her in Carrigtwohill three weeks ago, but I chose to ride a horse for Andrew Lee in the same race. In fairness to Patrick and Batt, they were very good to let me back on her in Knockanard.
Were you expecting Curraheen Queen to run well?
I thought that the track would suit her, I just didn’t know if she would handle the ground, but it wasn’t a problem. She’s not the quickest of mares but she would just stay going. She would have nearly done another lap, she was hardly blowing after the race.
Did you get some kick out of riding your first point-to-point winner?
It was brilliant. I always wondered if riding a winner would give me a better buzz than the show-jumping and it was, it was ten-times better! It was a monkey to get off the back, I’ve been waiting for a long time!
Were your family there on the day?
Luckily my dad was there. My mam, my aunts and my girlfriend were all working because it was a Saturday.
My sister is actually in Australia at the moment, she went out in October for a year’s experience as a work rider with Ciaron Maher.
I made sure to buy the video and it’s been watched a few times now by everyone.
Do you know what the plan is for Curraheen Queen now?
I think she will go on to contest a winners race next. They will probably look for another tough track which will suit her.
Was it always the plan to take out your license?
Always the plan. I grew up watching racing on the television and going to all the point-to-points. I was fascinated by it.
I got my bumper license at 17 and my first ride was in a bumper for Johnny Hurley on a horse called Hucklebuck. I’ve had 13 track rides so far now.
Have you been anywhere else to gain experience?
During my transition year, I used to go to Enda Bolger’s on a Friday. That was a brilliant experience, riding out along with very good riders and getting to school really nice horses over cross-country fences. It was invaluable experience for me.
Who is your biggest influence in racing?
It would have to be my dad. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to have the pointers in at home. He does all the looking after. He mucks them out each morning, feeds them and brushes them, I only have to come home and ride them out. It’s hard to get outside rides when you’re in college so it helps to have a few in at home that I can ride away every second weekend to gather experience.
Is there anyone you turn to for advice?
My parents would be the first I’d turn to for advice. Ken Budds is good for giving me advice after having a ride, he’ll tell me where I went wrong or what I could improve on.
Have you any interests or hobbies outside of racing?
I don’t have time for much really. I try to go running to keep up my fitness as much as I can. When I get a bit of free time, it’s also nice to socialise and meet up with friends from school that I wouldn’t really see when I’m at college or work. I try my best to keep the contact with them.
What are your ambitions for the rest of the season?
We have two five-year-old mares yet to run and I’d be hoping that they would come out and be lucky for us. I’ll just try to get as many spins as possible and hopefully get some more winners.
Do you want to add anything else?
I’d just like to say thanks again to Patrick and Batt for giving me the opportunity to ride a winner for them at Knockanard.
As a bonus for talented new point-to-point riders who feature in p2p.ie series of NextGen articles, Dungar Quality Oats will sponsor a special draw where one of the riders will win a cash prize of €500. All NextGen featured jockeys who have ridden their first point-to-point winner will be automatically entered into this draw. The draw will be conducted and prize winner announced at the end of the point-to-point season.
