Jessica Harrington in fine form as she shows off her stables, staff and Derby hopeful in Kildare

After guiding interested parties around the facilities of Jessica Harrington racing, the woman herself hailed her recent recovery from cancer while answering media questions.

She said, “I’m feeling great now. I think I am nearly back to normal because I have got my energy back. I feel great and I am lucky I got through it all, that’s the main thing.”

The energy she spoke of was clear to see and radiating off the legendary trainer as she politely laughed off questions regarding her motivations and desire to keep working. 

“I’m just like that,” Harrington said.

“What motivates me? I suppose I like winning, succeeding and getting better at what I do…I am probably more focused since I had cancer, wanting to do things because, in a way, it questioned the fact that you could get ill. And the question then was am I going to beat this? That makes you want more and to keep going.”

The conversation steered more personally towards Harrington following recent health concerns, before discussion of Irish flat racing’s premier event, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. Harrington was and is candid about her illness but unconcerned with whether she discusses it frequently or not.

Before the tea, coffee and getting to quiz the great trainer, the crowd was shown around the yard and there was one star attraction among the gallopers on a damp Tuesday morning.

Harrington’s Derby hopeful, Sprewell was the star of the day and alongside the intrigued eyes of the crowd, the colt received glowing praise from his trainer as she discussed his superb temperament and  “laid back” nature. As he was ridden around in a small circle to show off, Harrington added “There aren’t many colts you could do this with.”

Punters and owners alike will be increasingly excited during Derby week but Sprewell, it appears, is taking it all in his stride.

Amongst Harrington’s litany of prizes and achievements, she maintains there is still plenty left to try and accomplish in horse racing.

“There is an awful lot on that list still, don't you worry. And the Irish Derby is one of them, definitely. That’s on the bucket list, as it were,” She said.

Evaluating whether Sprewell is the horse to deliver that title to the Moone-based stables, she replied “We’ll see what’s left in him now, today. Auguste Rodin is going to be very difficult to beat and has proved himself to be an exceptional horse. But he’s got to go out and do it again.”

“You’re always hoping. You don’t go into those races thinking I’ll be grand being second. No, it’ll be grand if I can win,” Harrington laughed.

There was of course plenty to be gained for the visitors to such a venue and source of racing success. Among the invited crowd was Curragh Racing manager Evan Arkwright and Harrington was sure to get something from the visit herself, and was quick to quiz the visiting racecourse official. Questions moved quickly from a customary how are you? On to gauging the ground for the busy weekend ahead.

Always on the clock as all horse trainers are, Jessica Harrington was in great spirits ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend. As encouraging as it was to see her stable in typically great goings, it was chiefly brilliant to see the trainer herself in similarly fine form.