Image © Healy Racing
Tom Dreaper enjoyed a notable weekend double across Kirkistown and Durrow, with Techno Davis making a winning debut before Rock On Richie followed up in decisive fashion 24 hours later.
The opening leg came at Kirkistown, where Techno Davis landed the five-year-old geldings’ maiden to provide Dreaper with his first winner for owner Ronnie Bartlett.
“He was a lovely horse and it was a pleasure to get him in the first place. We always thought he was very smart, so it was great to see him go and do what we thought he could,” said Dreaper.
Ridden by Johnny Barry, the E160,000 Goffs Arkle Sale purchase was settled off the pace before making smooth headway from two out, moving into second approaching the last and quickening smartly on landing to assert on the run-in. He pulled a length-and-a-quarter clear of the Ger Quinn-trained The Two Four, with the pair drawing well clear of the remainder in what looked a solid contest.
“I thought for a while we might struggle to pick Ger Quinn’s up, as they thought a lot of their horse beforehand and they still did afterwards as well, but our lad has plenty of pace and plenty of stamina, so it worked out well.”
The success was a notable one for the yard, with Dreaper explaining how the opportunity to train for Bartlett came about.
“Mr Ferguson gave me a call to take a couple of them this year. We were lucky enough to get them in and it’s great to be involved with people like that.”
Bartlett’s colours have already enjoyed success in recent weeks, with Gold Steel striking at Belclare earlier this month for Derek O’Connor, and Dreaper was quick to highlight the importance of such owners within the sport.
“Mr Bartlett deserves all the success he gets. Owners like that put a lot into the game and it’s great to see them having winners.”
Future plans for Techno Davis remain open following his debut success, although a move to the track appears likely.
“We’ll see what happens, but I’d say Mr Ferguson and Mr Bartlett will look at sending him on for the track somewhere.”
The following day at Durrow, Rock On Richie completed the brace when producing a dominant display in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden under Jack Hendrick.
Sent off the odds-on favourite, the son of Mahler travelled strongly throughout before asserting from two out and powering clear to record a commanding 28-length success.
“He’s a very nice horse but just took time. We’ve had him since he was a three-year-old and that can be the case with Mahlers.”
Dreaper had been confident of a big run from the gelding on his previous start at Oldtown, only to find one too strong on the day.
“I actually fancied him at Oldtown the last day and we just bumped into a horse that was better than us on the day. If we ran it ten times, he’d probably beat us ten times again, but we knew what we had.”
Back on better underfoot conditions, Rock On Richie was able to show his true ability.
“He jumped and travelled well and the ground probably suited him better as well. It was nicer ground than he’d been running on and he seemed to appreciate that. He couldn’t have done it much easier.”
“There have been a few enquiries, so he will most likely head to the sales, if not sold in the meantime.”
Both winners have come out of their races in good order, which Dreaper highlighted as a particular positive.
“They’ve both come out of it well, which isn’t always the case, so we were delighted with that.”
The double continues a solid campaign for the yard, and Dreaper feels there could be more to come as the season progresses.
“We were probably a bit quiet early on, but the horses we have run have been running well and knocking on the door. We still have a few to run and with a bit of luck there’s more winners to come before the end of the season.”
Operating from County Meath, Dreaper runs a mixed yard of around 40 horses, combining point-to-pointers, track performers and pre-training stock, and is now in his fifth season training in his own name since taking over from his father Jim.
“We’d always be around the 40 mark. It’s a mixture of everything really — a few for the track, plenty of point-to-pointers, and some younger horses coming through.”
He is supported by a strong team at home, with a number of long-time staff playing a key role alongside his 75-year-old father Jim, whose experience remains invaluable.
“I’d be lost without him. The mistakes I’m making now, he made 50 years ago, so there’s no better man to have around.”
The yard also benefits from its own schooling ground, which is used regularly throughout the season.
“We school every second week here and have a huge field for it. Gordon Elliott, Gavin Cromwell and plenty of the local lads come in and use it, so we’re very lucky to have that on our doorstep.”
With a strong team still to be unveiled, further success could follow in the weeks ahead for the Greenogue handler.
