Name: Thomas Costello
From: Newmarket-on-fergus, Co. Clare
First Winner: Asian Master
How did you get started with horses?
Most of my family are involved with horses, my Grandad Tom trained, my father Tony rode and and so did my uncles Dermot and Tom, they all had very successful careers in the saddle with my uncles riding over 200 winners each and taking the Jockeys titles numerous times. My Father rode some top class horses in his career including Best Mate, Florida Pearl and Old Vic. They are all involved in the bloodstock industry now and train a couple of point-to-pointers.
I competed in showjumping as a kid competing at many of the main shows such as Millstreet and at the RDS. My father and my uncles had successful careers on the racetrack and a few of my cousins also competed in showjumping and still do.
I rode ponies up until the 13.2hh ranks and then I started riding out the racehorses at home and got hooked to the racing then.
Tell us a bit more about your family's history within the thoroughbred industry?
My Grandfather trained, bred and was a successful pinhooker, he sold six horses that all individually went on to win Gold Cups and he also trained the Irish Grand National winner in 1973 called Tartan Ace.
I am based at home in Clare at our family home - Treannahow House Stables. We breed, buy young stock to sell on and my dad then trains a small handful.
Our family has sold horses such as Florida Pearl, Our Vic, Best Mate and in recent years we sold Stattler as a store and he is now one of the favourites for the Gold Cup in Cheltenham this coming March.
Who do you mainly ride out for?
I am a full time business student in Cork so I ride out with my father at home everyday before college. We don't live too far from Kilnacrandy schooling ground so sometimes I would school for different people there when needed.
What is your first racing memory?
I remember going pointing when I was young and my uncle, John had Up For Review and he won in Knockanard, that was a good memory. He then went on to be trained by Willie Mullins and won about six races under rules.
How did the ride on Asian Master come about?
As we are mainly pinhookers, most horses we have are for sale but my mother owns Asian Master and he was placed as a four year old last year so we held onto him because we knew he had a win in him and I was very fortunate that my parents trusted me with the job of steering him to victory.
It was great to ride my first winner in my mothers silks as my father also wore them on his last ever ride which was on Our Vic when he won his point-to-point so that was very special.
What would you like to achieve from the Thoroughbred industry?
I would like to get more outside rides and some more winners this season. I have had about thirty rides in total, three on the track and the rest in point-to-points. I am in college full time so once I get my degree I would like to try and ride full time but I am quite tall so my weight could put a stop to that.
I am very much interested in the breeding side of racing and I keep a few shares in some of the horses at home so I could potentially go down that route after my riding career.
