Tom Dreaper has embarked on the journey of upholding his family's esteemed racing heritage by clinching his first victory as a trainer at Thurles with Folly Master.
A scion of the Dreaper dynasty, Tom succeeded his father, Jim, in acquiring the training licence, following in the illustrious footsteps of his grandfather, the legendary Tom Dreaper, renowned for his stewardship of the iconic racehorse Arkle. The celebrated Arkle galloped to glory with three successive triumphs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in addition to securing victories in the King George and the Irish Grand National, etching his name in racing folklore.
Upon his retirement in 1971, Tom passed the baton to Jim, who has now gracefully handed over the reins to his son, Tom, aged 40 and named after his illustrious forebear. The transition was formalised on March 1, propelling the new Dreaper scion into the limelight with Folly Master emerging victorious in the Leugh Beginners Chase at Thurles.
Under the expert guidance of jockey Keith Donoghue, the chestnut Folly Master, priced as the 11-10 favourite, raced to glory. This triumph, though credited to Tom Dreaper, could well have been attributed to Jim Dreaper, were it not for the fortuitous alteration in the race schedule due to the earlier race cancellation.
Reflecting on this unexpected victory, the winning trainer remarked,
“Our licences changed over on March 1, and while I'd like to claim strategic foresight, serendipity played its part."
He further elaborated,
"I previously trained point-to-point winners under my own name to distinguish between the two entities, but this milestone marks a significant progression. I am delighted to have secured this win."
Folly Master's meteoric rise epitomises the Dreaper ethos of nurturing top-class staying chasers, a legacy cherished by both father and son. Tom Dreaper is optimistic about continuing his winning streak through the spring and into the summer, aiming to maintain the momentum as the racing season unfolds.
Looking ahead, he expressed,
“With the evolving demands of the sport, we are committed to a year-round approach, seamlessly blending winter and summer operations. Our focus remains steadfast on producing competitive racehorses, in line with the standards set by our esteemed predecessors."
Dreaper remains resolute in his pursuit of excellence, embracing the legacy of traditional ownership that has defined the Dreaper stable over the years. As he sets his sights on future challenges, he remains unwavering in his commitment to sustaining a culture of quality and high performance in the world of racing.