Thurles jockey Cian Quirke is rapidly making a name for himself in the Irish jump racing scene and scaled new heights at Fairyhouse yesterday.
And the 21-year-old’s winning effort on Maggie Walsh at the County Meath venue on Wednesday was even described by winning trainer James Bowe as the “ride of the century.”
"That's not just the ride of the year, it's the ride of the century," the winning trainer told irishracing.com after Qurike had just touched off Davy Russell and the odds on favourite So Des Flos by a nose in a driving finish.
It was Quirke’s fifth winner in 10 days and came after the youngster had ridden a brilliant double at Down Royal yesterday.
Beating the veteran and decorated Russell in a finish put a huge feather in his cap — the 43-year-old having only returned to race riding a fortnight ago following his shock retirement before Christmas.
It’s not the first time Quirke has received glowing praise. Only last week Ruby Walsh singled out his ride on Solomon Lane at Punchestown as the ride of the week on his Road to Cheltenham show on Racing TV and tipped him for bigger things this season.
He said: *I doubt Solomon Lane is going to end up at Cheltenham but there’s a chance this young rider could be snapped up for the Martin Pipe.”
Quirke only turned professional in 2021 and rode a winner at Kilbeggan on his very first ride having gained experience in point-to-points.
