It was far from smooth sailing before arriving in Darwin, but a week later Canberra-based jockey Aaron Sweeney is settled and is looking forward to his NT sojourn.
Making the long trek north behind the wheel, Sweeney had issues with his trailer 120km out of Winton in western Queensland before arriving in the Top End last Friday afternoon.
Next day, the 38-year-old made his Fannie Bay debut and in his one and only ride he finished fourth on Neil Dyer’s Latest Bentley.
Darwin R3 replay – June 17, 2023
Winner: Captain George
Unfortunately, Sweeney had to forfeit other rides when it appeared as though his arrival would be delayed.
After a week of trackwork for Dyer and other trainers, as well as featuring in two trials on Tuesday, the Irish native has four rides at Darwin on Saturday.
He partners Darwin Cup prospect Kaonic and Darwin Guineas and NT Derby hope Fierce Legend for Dyer, All Stardom for local trainer Chris Pollard, and Nordic Lass for Alice Springs trainer Paul Gardner.
Kyneton-based Dyer, back in the tropics for his 16th-straight Darwin Cup Carnival, has won the Cup and the Derby previously and in his Fannie Bay return last weekend he had a win with Hettinger.
“Kaonic has been good for Neil – he ran fourth in the Cup two years ago and second last year,” Sweeney said.
“Didn’t have much luck last year.
“He tracked the favourite, who fell away and that left Kaonic in a spot where he couldn’t get a run when he needed it.
“They’re looking forward to him running in this year’s Cup – I’m going to be riding him and that’s why I came up.
“Neil is excited with Fierce Legend, I rode him at the beach the other day and he’s got a really good prep in his step.
“He’s a half-brother to Kaonic – I like him and we’ll see how he goes on the weekend.
“I think there’s one to beat – the top weight, All Hard Wood – but we’ll give him a good rattle at it and see how he goes.”
Sweeney, who started out as an amateur rider after arriving in Australia and acquired his professional licence in 2013, had never met Dyer before being contacted by the Victorian trainer.
“Neil gave me a call a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
“I wasn’t really going to come, but I decided to take up the opportunity and come up here for 10 weeks and be the stable jockey.
“I didn’t have a connection with Neil – I think it may have just been word of mouth.
“He’s good mates with Paul Murray at Kembla Grange where I used to ride.
“I think Paul may have given me a pretty good wrap and that I’d be the right man for the job.
“I was based at Kembla Grange as an apprentice for Kerry Parker and I’ve ridden a bit for Murray in the past as a trackwork rider.”
After finally overcoming visa issues, Sweeney was cleared to ride professionally when he became a permanent Australian resident.
His first ride on the Fannie Bay dirt proved interesting.
“It was my first time riding here in Australia the Melbourne way (anti-clockwise), believe it or not,” he said.
“It suited me being a right-handed whip rider.
“I didn’t think the Darwin track was too bad, I liked it – it’s a nice smooth track and the horses seemed to like it as they stretched out pretty well.”
Sweeney has been riding horses all his life and did a lot of amateur work in Ireland.
Arriving in Australia, he started riding trackwork for Geelong trainers Don and Andrew Campbell before relocating to Sydney when visa issues thwarted his attempts to acquire a licence.
“I had a cousin in Sydney and I got into Gai Waterhouse’s stable as a trackwork rider at Randwick,” Sweeney said.
“Stayed there for a couple of months and then ventured down to Kembla Grange to work for Kerry Parker.”
Sweeney, who also has a boxing background and was forced to relinquish a charity bout before heading north, is looking forward to his Darwin adventure.
“I was expecting this good weather, that’s for sure.” he said.
“It’s a marvellous place, it’s a great country to be in.
“Home in Ireland, it’s a great country too, but when it comes to the weather there’s nothing better than Australia.
“In winter, you can go down to the snow in Canberra.
“Come up here and you’ve got 30C – you’ve got the best of both worlds.”
With 149 winners as a professional rider, Sweeney reflects on his Australian escapade with satisfaction.
“I was an amateur jockey for three seasons – getting that experience learning how to ride here in Australia,” he said.
“Riding at the picnics, get a feel for it and then transfer over to be a professional when I did was probably the best thing I ever did.”
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