Aileen O’Sullivan lit up Clonmel’s mid-week fixture on Thursday by recording her first success under rules with the success of American Image.
The former champion lady point-to-point rider was aboard her own 12-year-old in the Clonmel Handicap Chase and the interview that she gave to Kevin O’Ryan on Racing TV immediately after the success proved to be a big hit on social media and also gained notable mainstream coverage when it was included on the RTÉ 6.01 News programme later that evening.
“I cannot describe it, it is a dream come true,” declared the Co. Meath native who combines her racing with a full-time job in AIB.
“I couldn’t believe it, it means the world. This is why you get up in the morning, this is why we do it. I am so chuffed and I can’t believe the horse, he is just good as gold.
"I even thought that we had another lap to go, he just jumped from fence to fence and the more I swung out of him the more he wanted to go and fight me.
“He just never gave in, he was brilliant. He rallied up that hill and my god when I needed him he stuck his head down and he flew those last two fences.
“I didn’t have a chance to breath between them, he was just lightening quick over them. His jumping saved the day, he was brilliant,” added O’Sullivan who has also ridden eight winners in the pointing fields including the prestigious Barbour Cup at Castletown-Geoghegan.
Class!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 29, 2020
Aileen O'Sullivan has just ridden her first winner - and the amateur jockey certainly knows how to celebrate! � @ClonmelR @irishkor pic.twitter.com/dfzYWRpedx
