Galway jockey Rossa Ryan called it “surreal” when he guided Bluestocking to victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Paris Longchamp.

The filly, trained by Ralph Beckett for the Juddmonte team, was a late addition to the race after her impressive win over the same course and distance in the Prix Vermeille.

Sent off at 5-1, Bluestocking had a smooth run, sitting comfortably in the slipstream of Aidan O’Brien’s Los Angeles before fending off the late challenge of Aventure, sealing a record seventh Arc win for the late Khalid Abdullah’s storied racing legacy.

For Ryan, this was the peak of his career so far, just a year on from his first Group 1 triumph.

Looking back on that momentous day in Paris, the 24-year-old told RTÉ Sport, “To be honest, it all felt a bit surreal. I wasn’t too nervous; more eager to get on her and see how we’d shape up against the competition. I never doubted her ability to win it.

“The first few furlongs were key. When Ryan (Moore) on Los Angeles came across me at the mile marker by the trees, she just took off. And at the top of the straight… to see her cross the line in front was something else, like a dream.”

“She’s been a real game-changer for me, that mare. Here’s hoping it’s just the start of bigger things.”

Ryan’s win makes him the first Irish jockey to claim the Arc since Mick Kinane guided Sea The Stars to victory back in 2009. Son of National Hunt trainer David Ryan, Rossa caught the racing bug early on but says he was never pushed into it. Growing up in Corofin, Co Galway—a heartland of Gaelic football—his journey started in pony races before he took the leap to England at 16, joining Richard Hannon’s yard.

“It was a big call to leave home at that age,” he admitted. “But Richard Hannon offered me the kind of chance you don’t pass up—an apprenticeship with one of the best.

“He’s produced some of the top jockeys out there—Ryan Moore, Tom Marquand, Hollie Doyle—the best in the business. Going there really set me on my way.”

Reflecting on this past year, he added, “Getting my first Group 1 with Shaquille in the July Cup was unbelievable. And then Bluestocking comes along—I never thought things would accelerate like this. Beyond the big wins, it’s been a strong year all round, and I’ve got a brilliant team behind me making it all tick.”

He also spoke warmly of his father’s role in shaping his career: “My dad’s been a huge influence—always there on the other end of the phone when things aren’t going right, and even when they are, he keeps my feet on the ground.

“He’s not one to sugarcoat it, whether I ride a good race or not. More than a mentor, he’s been my rock. I wouldn’t be half the jockey I am today without him.”

Cover Photo Credit: Edward Whitaker