Barry Stone enjoyed a red-letter-day at Loughrea last Sunday, booting home his first winner in the first division of the four-year-old maiden.
The County Wexford rider did the steering aboard the Mary Doyle-trained Unexpected Depth. Having just his seventh ride, the 19 year-old gave the debutant a cool ride and should be one to watch this season, especially with the support of Baltimore Stables behind him.
Name: Barry Stone
Age: 19
Where are you from? Cleariestown, Co Wexford.
Are you from a racing background?
My uncle Benny Walsh is a jockey and my younger brother is riding in pony races.
How did you get started in racing and where are you based now?
It was mainly through Benny, I starting going down and riding out for him at the weekend when I was in school. He got me a job then riding out in Brian Jordan’s, so that’s where it all started.
Once I finished in school I spent a winter with Liz Doyle and another with Noel Meade. I was with Jim Bolger and Joseph O’Brien for the two summers, before I started riding out for James Doyle. I then got the opportunity to take out the licence and start race-riding.
I am here with the Doyle’s in the mornings, I try and go schooling any afternoon I can. They are good to work for and it’s great when you are getting rides. It is just myself and Aaron Sinnott with licences in the yard. So I would be hopeful of getting plenty of opportunities this season. There are about 40 horses in, so we would be busy enough.
Riding your first winner was obviously a big deal, how did you get the ride and was he fancied?
I ride the horse Unexpected Depth, out every day. I had also ridden him in a couple of bits of work on the beach and schooled him at home. I saw he was entered and the Doyle's told me I was riding him during the week and that he would have a great chance. It all worked out well on the day, and I hope he goes on now.
What are your ambitions now for the season?
I would like to try and go for the novice title if I could, just try my best and ride for as many people as I can really.
What about plans for the future, would you like to turn professional down the line?
For the moment I will stay down the point-to-point route and see how that goes.
What improvements for novice riders would you like to see in point-to-pointing?
I think that if you give young lads a chance, it gets more lads involved. It would even help with staff if you had more young lads coming up. The novice riders’ races are a help as it encourages trainers to give riders a chance.
Can you give us a horse to watch out for?
I have another ride there at the weekend it should have a great chance, an Arcadio horse called Fancy Pants.
What about another novice rider that you think might be coming though?
I would be friendly enough with James Kenny and I think he would be up and coming.
Who would you look up to in the weight room or try and style yourself off?
I would try and do something like what Jamie Codd or Barry O’Neill do.
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What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
I think just not to panic in race, don’t rush.
Outside of racing, do you play any sports or hobbies?
I play hurling and football for St Anne’s.
Watch the video below to see Barry get off the mark between-the-flags.
Next Generation | Rider - Barry Stone
— p2p.ie (@irishp2p) October 19, 2018
The County Wexford native, opened his account between-the-flags at Loughrea last Sunday, aboard Unexpected Depth in the 4yo maiden.
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