Have you heard of a shark crossing the Atlantic to follow a horse?
Carlow trainer John Joseph Hanlon (“Shark” to everyone) is in transit to New Jersey in pursuit of his equine sensation Hewick.
Bought for the modest sum of €800, Hewick became the “People’s Champion” in a remarkable season of racing triumphs.
And now he’s chasing the American dream, currently in quarantine in the United States ahead of a tilt at Saturday’s U.S. Grand National.
It left the Fenniscourt yard last week, heading west via the circuitous route from England and Belgium.
Now the bargain is aiming for success in the $250,000 race at the Far Hills course in affluent New Jersey suburbs.
“It’s a great story,” says Hanlon of his horse, which has won €300,000 in prize money in recent months.
“It’s something you dream of but rarely do. We were in Goresbridge and that horse was there, we saw it and loved it, then we brought it home and from that day on it all went smoothly. went well.
“A lot of things can go wrong, but everything went well with this horse, and we’re really looking forward to America now,” adds Hanlon.
Ahead of the big race of the weekend, Hanlon has also been busy keeping an eye on Hewick’s rivals.
“There’s an English horse in it and the rest are American horses. It’s two thousand and five furlongs, I just hope it’s not too short for him – but he’s a fast horse.
“The jumps there are different. In Ireland you have hurdles and fences, over there it’s not a hurdle or a fence, it’s in between.
“So we tried to jump the horse last week between these fences, but he learned quickly – he’s a good student.”
The US Grand National will be the 101st running of the famous race, and Hanlon is confident Hewick will add to his roster of triumphs.
Hewick’s gutsy victory in the Galway Plate was one of the highlights of the sporting summer.
And racing glory hasn’t turned his head, it seems, as he’s more than happy to eat humble airplane food.
“I think he will run very well! He is in quarantine now but he has traveled very well. He is eating – some horses don’t want to eat or nibble but this horse has done everything right. The guy with him said that He was delighted with him, he is very happy with him.”
Hewick will emerge from quarantine when his relationship with Carlow hits the US, but it will be more than just “Shark” and his bandmates cheering him on from the stands.
“It’s unreal, I can’t believe how many Irish people go racing. They text me, call me and email me. It’s the people’s horse and we will try to keep it that way because without them we would be ‘I’m not here.’
Hewick’s heroism also sparked great interest in America, according to Hanlon.
“They can’t wait for this horse to pass. Bigger trainers are expected to be there, but with a small trainer we’re just lucky to be there.”
As for visualizing victory in America’s greatest jump race – well, “Shark” didn’t even think about it, he insists.
“I came out of the stands at Galway and it was a dream come true to win a Galway Plate and then the disappointment at Listowel (when Hewick fell). But the most important thing is that the horse is fine and when we walked out of Listowel, we were happy.
“And we had that in mind, so when he came home I said ‘listen, here we go’.
“He wants good ground, and you’re going to get good ground in America,” says Hanlon.
As Hanlon and partner Rachel pack Hewick’s bridle and colors, the handler adds, “Either we finish his season now or give him one more run.”
What if Hewick won in New Jersey?
“It will take a long time to get home,” laughs Hanlon.
If this American dream comes true, ‘Shark’ will no longer be a small fish in a big pond.
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