ALTHOUGH I got a great buzz when Secret Memories won at Wetherby in June, the filly’s recent victory at Dundalk was even sweeter. It was fantastic to gain that initial win in my adopted country, especially with the horse who was my first runner as a licensed trainer.

Racing is in my blood, so I suppose I was always going to work in the industry in some form. My dad Joey Brown was a leading apprentice based with Ian Balding, while my mother Rachel, worked as a racing secretary in a number of yards.

I grew up in Yorkshire where I soon became involved with hunting, showjumping and showing ponies. Dad rode in America, Japan and Dubai when I was very young but I have fond memories of watching him in action. After we returned from Dubai, my mother got a job as secretary to Sue and Harvey Smith and so began my first real interest in racehorses.

Aside from working in the office, mom also rode out in the yard and I went in whenever I was off school. My own ponies were stabled close to the Smith yard and I would often bring them up and ride on the gallops.

DANDY

Upon leaving school, I went to work with Dandy Nicholls where dad was riding out at the time. I spent a year and a half at the yard, starting off riding the lead horses before moving on to the better ones. It had always been on my mind to come over to Ireland at some stage as I firmly believe that the best horses and racing in the world can be found in this country.

In 2006 I took the plunge, initially working for Paddy Twomey, who just had breeze-up horses at the time. I also rode out for Joe and Aidan Fogarty at their Kilfeacle Stud.

Next I moved up to the Curragh, where I was based with Sabrina Harty. I left Sabrina in 2013 and had my daughter in 2014.

Over the years I always kept a couple of breakers and pre-trained horses, so it was a long held ambition of mine to take out a licence.

Earlier this year, I applied for and was granted a restricted trainers licence, before going on to rent a yard in Carlow.

In January, Secret Memories became my first runner on the track, when acquitting herself really well in a Dundalk maiden.

I was disappointed at the time, as we strongly fancied her and I felt she would have gone close had she not lost ground at the start. We started off with just the two in training but our string has subsequently grown to 11. It is a mixture of flat, National Hunt, point-to-pointers and young horses.

We have wonderful facilities here at the yard with a two-furlong round sand gallop, one-mile hill grass gallop, walkers, lunging ring, paddocks, as well as access to a nearby beach and local gallops.

My partner Danny and I do all the work at home, although we try and get the best jockeys available when schooling horses.

We also have stabling for another 10 horses so hopefully we can fill those over the coming months. I am prepared to travel to the end of the earth for a winner, hence our regular visits to the UK over the past few months.

COMPETITION

I feel it is easier to target races over there as you are almost certain to get a run and the competition isn’t as strong. Secret Memories was second at Bath in May, before returning to win at Wetherby the following month.

We had expected her to win at Wolverhampton on December 2nd, but she missed the break and had no luck in running.

Having taken her travels well and appearing fresh in herself, I decided to run Secret Memories back quickly at Dundalk.

In the back of my head I knew that she would win this side of Christmas, so I entered her and waited to see the competition.

She is getting stronger all the time and I feared little in the race so took the decision to declare.

Fortunately it paid off and she gave her owners Michael and Shane O’Brien, a second win in their colours. They have had a dream start to racehorse ownership as this is the very first time they have become involved. Ross Coakley gave Secret Memories an excellent ride on the night. He is a very decent young rider and was confident in the parade ring prior to the race.

I hope to get a couple of more horses over the next few months and hopefully a few more winners. In the longer term, I’d love to train a better quality of horse, something that every trainer aspires to.

Katy Brown was in conversation with John O’Riordan