By Brian Sheerin
Once viewed as one of the classiest riding prospects in Ireland, Tom 'Socks' Madden pointed to the harsh realities of competing in his home nation as the driving force behind him taking the plunge and bidding to emulate Declan Bates and Johnny Allen by turning to Australia in an effort to rejuvenate his career in the saddle.
Just over a month after he upped sticks to Australia, Madden rode his first winner for new boss Lindsey Smith aboard Glitter 'N' Gold (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), after which he credited fellow Irishman Shane Jackson for advising him to make the switch.
Jackson made that same successful move a decade ago and left nothing to chance so that Tom, the son of trainer Niall 'Boots' Madden and brother to Grand National-winning pilot Niall 'Slippers' Madden, could hit the ground running down under.
The 25-year-old said, “I've been here just over a month so to mark it with my first winner in Australia was great. Things had dried up for me in Ireland so it made sense to give this a go and I am really enjoying it.”
Madden burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old back in 2013. He rode three winners in his debut season and confirmed himself one of the most promising apprentices in the country the following year by bagging 14 wins.
His best season came in 2019 when he rode 25 winners but it was in 2020 where he claimed his most memorable prizes given he partnered Silence Please (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Zaffy's Pride (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) and Barrington Court (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) to listed race success for Jessica Harrington.
Madden remained with Harrington, where he rode as second choice to Shane Foley, until he decided to leave for Australia and pointed to the fact that the rides had largely dried up as the main reason behind the switch.
He explained, “Jessie wasn't running much towards the end of the season and, whatever she was running, Shane was riding so there weren't many rides to go around. Money was becoming tight because I wasn't getting many rides and all I was doing was riding out for people in the mornings.
“My brother Niall is good friends with Shane Jackson, who has made a good career for himself here in Australia, and he has been on to me for a good few years to come down and give it a go. I shelved those plans when Covid hit but I'd no excuse not to take the opportunity this year now that the restrictions have eased.”
Madden added, “Shane and his wife Lauren have been very good to me and had everything organised for when I arrived. Not only did they line up a job and somewhere for me to stay, but they also organised banking and a car for me, so I am very lucky.
“Even in the smaller races down here, there is great prize-money on offer. Obviously the city meetings are where you want to be riding at but the country tracks offer fantastic prize-money as well and it goes right down to eighth and ninth position so, every time you go racing, you're picking up a cheque.
“I was getting by without making a lot of money in Ireland. Prize-money at home is okay and the riding fees are fine but the riding fee is nearly double out here. It's just so competitive in Ireland. It was great when I had the claim as I could ride away in the apprentice races but, when you lose your claim, things become a lot harder and it's much tougher to compete. I just found that I was tipping away okay before Covid but never really got going after it.”
Madden is not the only Irishman to sample all that Australia has to offer. Ben Coen, Jamie Powell, Scott McCullagh and Mikey Sheehy are riding in Sydney this winter but Madden, whose agent is another Irish native Robbie Kingston, brother to trainer George Kingston, is open to an extended stay.
He said, “I have a flight back to Ireland booked for the end of January but, if things keep going the way they are going and I am still enjoying it, I could stay. I'll take things as they come and hopefully everything will work out.”
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