Irish jockey bunkers down in Sydney for latest stint

Irish jockey Dylan Browne Mcmonagle will be a regular fixture in Sydney over the spring and summer and he is hoping to hit the ground running with key rides in the feature races at Newcastle.

Attached to the Joseph O’Brien yard, Browne McMonagle was Ireland’s champion apprentice in 2021 and has linked up with trainer Ciaron Maher for what is his second Australian stint.

He made a similar venture 12 months ago, basing himself with Maher in Melbourne where he rode 11 winners, his lone appearance in Sydney resulting in a seventh aboard Odinson in the 2024 Inglis Millennium.

“I came back for the Inglis Millennium and that was my only ride in Sydney. This time I have changed things up and I’ll give it a go up here,” Browne McMonagle said.

“I’m going to stay here unless Ciaron wants me to go back down to Melbourne for certain meetings. I’ll do whatever he says.

“The racing is very competitive here all year round, so it’s good to come over and be in the mix with the best riders over here and getting used to different ways of racing and how it works, and meeting new contacts as well.”

Browne McMonagle has been straight to work since landing in Melbourne last Friday.

The 21-year-old had five rides at Flemington on Champions Day before heading to Sydney where he was in action at Hawkesbury on Tuesday and Rosehill on Wednesday.

He has three mounts at the opening night meeting of the season at Canterbury on Friday and another five at Newcastle, including Group 1 winner Royal Merchant for Maher in the $1 million The Hunter (1300m).

He will also link with Maher in the two other black-type races on Saturday, partnering last-start winner Snitzanova in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) and Herman Hesse in the Listed The Beauford (2300m).

Browne McMonagle was unperturbed by the task of getting his head around the local form and planned to binge on race replays and also seek the advice of trainers.

“It’s the usual no matter where you go,” he said.

“You have to look at replays and follow the horses in the races and you soon catch up to it all.

“Horses run over here fairly regularly so there are plenty of videos to watch.

“It’s just a matter of listening to people and getting advice wherever you can.”

With racing in Ireland limited to one all-weather track meeting per week during their winter, Browne McMonagle plans to base himself in Sydney for the next couple of months.

He has already racked up more than 300 career-winners, a trio at Group 1 level including two this year, and is keen to add to his tally and experience during his latest Australian sojourn.

“We will just try to get a couple of winners again, keep everyone happy and learn as much as we can,” he said of his goal.

Browne McMonagle’s remaining rides at Newcastle are Shahzad for Rob Archibald and Annabel Neasham in the Alf Kneebone Trans Tasman Trophy (1850m) and the Maher-trained Zoology in the Ausure Insurance Newcastle Handicap (1300m).