It was back to business as usual for Ronan Whelan on Sunday, who rode work on French Derby winner Constitution River in Ballydoyle prior to riding two at Navan. Despite being the fourth string, the 33-year-old saw his mount become the subject of a successful gamble as he won the Epsom Derby by two lengths.
Sat upside stablemate Action throughout, he was always travelling comfortably in the rain-softened ground. Christmas Day hit the front off the turn, still full of running, and always looked in command.
Speaking to Racing TV at Navan, via the Racing Post, Ronan Whelan said: “It’s so overwhelming and, it’s not just overwhelming for me. It is for my dad and girlfriend, too. My dad is like a celebrity now after leading him in – it’s like he’s Tom Magnier, not Tom Whelan!
“The whole thing just seems so weird and it’s starting to hit me only now, while I’m here at Navan. There are so many people coming up and congratulating me. It’s incredible.”
Whelan gave an honest account of the magnitude of his experience in the aftermath, with a multitude of conflicting emotions. “I feel guilty and very lucky. I’ve been saying since the race that the whole thing feels surreal. The more I think about it, the more lucky I feel. Lucky is the word I would use to best describe how I’m feeling right now.
“I was the one who got to steer him on the day. But any of the lads in the weighing room would have won on him.”
“If things didn’t work out, it wasn’t going to be the end of the world” – Ronan Whelan
Whelan perhaps hasn’t had the upward trajectory he might’ve thought after becoming Ireland’s 2012 Champion apprentice. However, following the retirement of Michael Halford and a stint in Australia, Whelan is now a growing figure in the Ballydole camp.
He continued: “I hopped off the Epsom Derby winner yesterday and my first lot this morning was the French Derby winner. I was jocked up on Constitution River when I got in. That’s what you’re dealing with down there. Amazing.
Reflecting on the Derby, Whelan said: “I was on the fourth string so there was no real pressure. It was a great position to be in. I had it in my head what I wanted to do. If things didn’t work out, it wasn’t going to be the end of the world.
“I knew when the rain came, he had a right chance and I was getting a good feeling from everyone. The race itself couldn’t have gone any better. I couldn’t believe it. It literally worked out how I hoped it would, and he did it so easily.”