Emmet McNamara

This month’s Derby-winning jockey tells Catherine Austen how he landed the odds on his Epsom debut, and why he’s in no rush to pursue his accountancy career just yet

- Catherine Austen

WHILE the equine heroes of Derby Day at Epsom were Serpentine and Love, the magnificent chestnut son and daughter of Galileo who gave trainer Aidan O’Brien an eighth win in both the Derby and the Oaks, the undoubted human star was Emmet McNamara.

The 30-year-old gave 25-1 chance Serpentine a brilliantly bold, front-running ride to capture Flat racing’s most illustrious prize by 5½ lengths. As the assembled journalists frantically Googled him before the press conference, they discovered that not only was it his first ride in the Derby, it was also his first ride at Epsom, his first Group One – let alone Classic – success, and his first winner of any sort since October last year.

Emmet may have been an unfamiliar face to the British press, but, speaking with humour, honesty and intelligence about the race and his position at Ballydoyle, he isn’t one we’ll forget.

“I’ve been saving myself,” he said, with a sideways smile, when asked about those winnerless months.

More Googling reveals a LinkedIn page – how many jockeys have those? – a first-class honours degree in accounting and finance, and three out of four of his professional accountancy exams. There’s more to this man than a pair of chiseled cheekbones and ability in the saddle.