Rhode jockey rides first winner at Tramore on horse owned by her mother
It is a day Rhode jockey Hannah Smullen will never forget
Friday, May 31 is a day Rhode jockey Hannah Smullen will never forget as the daughter of trainer Frances and the nine times champion jockey, the late Pat Smullen, rode her first ever winner at Tramore on a horse owned by her mother and trained by Gordon Elliott called Fillusin.
In just her seventh ride in public Smullen was just as polished in the saddle as her parents as she came with a late charge to overturn the 2/5 favourite Si Se Peude the mount of Champion lady rider Jody Townend.
Smullen aboard Fillusim led for much of the journey, however, as the leading pair turned in to the dip with two furlong to go Si Se Peude appeared to be travelling best but Smullen got a great tune of Fillusin and staying on strongly, got up in the shadow of the post to win by half a length
A delighted Hannah said afterward, “I’m 21 and in college studying Law in Trinity. I rode out for Gordon at weekends and on holidays. Gordon has been very very good to me, I’m really enjoying riding as an amateur but I’ll focus on college as well. That’s my sixth ride in bumpers."