In 2023, Rossa Ryan enjoyed far and away his most successful season so far, numerically and fiscally, finishing the year with 202 winners from 1,090 rides at a strike rate of 19% and amassing over £3.6 million in total prize money. He was also a ‘punters’ pal’, accruing a healthy level stakes profit of £109.24. The vagaries of the Flat Jockeys’ Championship meant that, despite being the most prolific jockey in the country for the calendar year, he did not become Champion Jockey. Nevertheless, Ryan, who turned 24 on July 3, 2024, has continued the good work in the new season. At the time of writing, since the start of the Flat Jockeys’ Championship, on May 4, 2024, he has ridden 52 winners from 293 rides, at a strike rate of 18%, and currently lies third on the table.
Aside from passing the significant milestone of over 200 winners, 2023 was also a red-letter year for Ryan insofar that, on July 15, he rode his first Group 1 winner, Shaquille, trained by Julie Camacho, in the July Cup at Newmarket. Sadly, his first ride in the Derby proved less fruitful, with his mount, Macduff, trained by Ralph Beckett, only able to finish a distant thirteenth of 15 finishers, 29½ lengths behind the winner, City Of Troy.
Born and raised in Ballinderry, near Tuam, Co. Galway, Rossa Ryan is, of course, the son of trainer David Ryan. A graduate from pony racing, in which he was hugely successful, Ryan Jnr. Rode his first winner under Rules, Solar Heat, trained by Dot Love, in an apprentices’ handicap at Dundalk on December 9, 2016. The following January he became apprenticed to Wiltshire trainer Richard Hannon and, in 2019, finished runner-up in the apprentices’ title race. In 2020, Ryan accepted a retainer from Amo Racing, under the auspices of football agent Kia Joorabchian, and although that association came to an end in 2022 his career has continued to flourish.
