A RAMPAGING former rugby star has swapped the oval ball for the oval track after embarking on an exciting new career as a racehorse owner.
Former British and Irish Lions fullback and Irish Six Nations hero Rob Kearney is the proud owner of The Very Man.
Since purchasing him with a mate in December 2021, The Very Man has turned into something of a money-making machine.
The nine-year-old gelding is no spring chicken but netted a £39,344 payday with victory in the Shergar Cup handicap at Ascot last month.
Prior to that he was a brilliant second in the Connacht Hotel Handicap at Galway over 2m1f, earning a further £18,000.
And at last April's Punchestown Festival he came a hugely promising second to Cheltenham Festival winner Seddo in a handicap hurdle, bringing in another £16,300.
Next up will likely be a tilt at the mega money Irish Cesarewitch on September 24 at the Curragh.
Victory there would be worth a shade under £300,000 and could possibly come before a go at the British equivalent on October 14.
All that is in the future, though, and, for now, Kearney is just loving life in his new role.
Explaining his move into racing, he told Evoke: "I grew up on a farm in County Louth and my dad used to breed horses so it was always in the family a little bit.
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"We would go to some of the race days these people are running in, they were all enjoyable.
"I wasn’t ever a fanatical racegoer and didn't totally understand all the ins and outs about the horses, but always took an interest.
"Then me and and a pal plus a few other lads were having a few drinks together and we proposed the idea of maybe starting a syndicate with a few people.
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"But it turned out three or four of the other lads didn’t get involved.
"I was left holding the bucket – but it’s been great and it's given us really good days out."
The Very Man is in training with Jessica Harrington, the matriarch of Irish racing who has very bravely battled cancer.
The horse's co-owner Dan Kiely described the journey they have been on so far – and what it's like teaming up with Rob.
He told The Irish Field: "We saw The Very Man and fell in love with him. He has given us the most incredible joy.
"He has brought us to Punchestown, Ascot and even Cheltenham.
"You see the kick that Rob is getting out of The Very Man… he never imagined that he would get such a thrill from it.
"I'm sure we are going to see more rugby players of past and present getting involved in the sport and ownership."
Kearney follows in the footsteps of the likes of Kevin Doyle, the former Reading footballer who has carved a successful career out as a racehorse breeder.
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While England cricket star Jonny Bairstow landed a £93,000 winner at York recently.
With cash like this flying around, expect a lot more sports stars to flood to racing in the coming years.
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