A ‘top-class professional and top-class man’ - tributes flow in for Pat Smullen

Smullen, who died on Tuesday evening at the age of 43, succeeded Kinane as stable jockey to Dermot Weld at Rosewell House on the Curragh in 1999 and enjoyed huge success in the role.

Smullen went on to become Irish champion jockey nine times and was a multiple Classic winner, landing the Derby in 2016 aboard the Weld-trained Harzand.

“He was a gentleman. He came to Dermot’s, things moved on and he took over my job and did a fantastic job for a long time,” said Kinane.

“He was a top-class professional and a top-class man. We had some great tussles and we had some good times.

“Unfortunately, he couldn’t win his last battle, but he tried so hard.”

One of Smullen’s keenest rivals throughout his career was Johnny Murtagh, who is now a successful trainer. As recently as Saturday, Smullen was still in touch with his old friend.

“The racing world mourns a true legend,” said Murtagh. I had a big winner on Saturday (Champers Elysees in the Matron Stakes) and one of the first messages I had was from Pat saying ‘well done, Johnny, brilliant win’ so he was showing class right up to the end.

“He set the standard in the weighing room in Ireland, everyone wanted to be like him – he was the champion jockey in Ireland in more ways than one.

“He leaves some legacy. We knew all about him in racing, but it wasn’t until he retired the wider community got to see what he was like, raising all that money for cancer research and pulling so many people together for his charity race last year.

“In and out of the saddle he was just a really great guy and my thoughts are now with Frances (wife) and the kids and his mam, all his family. It will be a tough few days, but we look on his life and career with very fond memories.”

Jockeys on both sides of the Irish Sea wore black arm bands as a mark of respect.

A statement issued on behalf of Michael D Higgns, President of Ireland, said Smullen’s “remarkable performances at home and abroad brought joy to so many”. It added: “The President conveys his sincere condolences to his family, wife and children.”

It was endorsed by Oisin Murphy, Britain’s champion jockey, who grew up in Ireland. He posted: “God rest you. What you meant to the people most close to you and the people of Ireland. Not to mind the rest of the world. A truly fitting statement.”

Smullen was married to former trainer Frances Cowley, sister-in-law to record-breaking trainer Aidan O’Brien. The couple had three children – Hannah, Paddy and Sarah.

Yet Smullen will be remembered for both his humility and grace, fighting cancer and his relationship with Weld, which culminated with Rite Of Passage’s 2010 win in the Ascot Gold Cup and Harzand’s Derby triumph in 2016.

“Pat Smullen was just a very, very special man, with regards to the sport of horse racing and, indeed, to me personally. He was unique,” said Weld.

“In this day and age, I would have to say his loyalty and his integrity stood out.

“He was my stable jockey for 20 years and was just the professionals’ professional.

“His detail and his determination were major factors, as was his bravery.

“He was a very principled man, he was a family man and his loyalty and integrity were an example to anybody within the sport.

“After he won the Epsom Derby on Harzand – and he so deserved to ride the winner of an Epsom Derby – the amount of public support, I can even use the word love at his achievement, was amazing.

“People not even connected to the sport sent him congratulations.

“It was the same right around the world. He won the Matriarch Stakes (Dress To Thrill 2002) one day for me and the respect the American jockeys had for him was very special. He was a leader in his own profession.

“He led by example, I think that is the best way I can describe him.”