Ken Whelan’s stay in Australia has ended prematurely and the popular jump jockey returned to race-riding at Killarney today where he cited family reasons for his return.

Whelan, who partnered Sense Of Awareness to a down-the-field finish in the Flesk Valley Rowing Club Handicap Chase, revealed “I was coming home for my son Ross’ communion and found it impossible to go back.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time over there and was working about 40 minutes from Melbourne for trainer Mick Kent who trained a Group 1 winner recently.”

“I had seven rides over there and finished fourth once. The prizemoney is something else out there and I rode in a chase worth about €60,000 - that race was run over 3m2f and had 33 fences! The ground is very well watered over there but there are only two jump races every week or ten days so opportunities are limited.”

Regarding some of the other Irish jump jockeys, Whelan said “the lads are doing well over there and Johnny Allen is the only one of them to have ridden a winner since moving there although Stephen Gray and Tommy Ryan have each been placed in races.”

Whelan returns to Ireland full-time and is currently riding out for John ‘Shark’ Hanlon, while also working part-time as a Sales Rep for Gain Feeds.

Thomas Weekes