Dylan Browne McMonagle is on course to be crowned champion jockey in Ireland for the first time but his services won't be needed for Al Riffa, who will now be ridden by Mark Zahra
10:09, 20 Oct 2025
Ireland’s leading Flat jockey has lost the mount on Melbourne Cup favourite Al Riffa to a local. Dylan Browne McMonagle, stable jockey to Joseph O’Brien, is on course to claiming his first championship title, seven winners clear of defending champion Colin Keane.
The former champion apprentice steered Al Riffa to a commanding victory in the Irish St Leger in September which sealed his trip to Flemington for the £5 million 2m race, which O’Brien has won twice before. Local jockeys were employed for both Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020, and like them Al Riffa is now owned by local connections, Australian Bloodstock.
The 22-year-old McMonagle has ridden winners in Australia and has been on board Al Riffa eight times, winning four and finishing second in four. He was in the mix for the mount but Al Riffa’s owners have overlooked him for Mark Zahra, who has won two of the last three Melbourne Cups, which include Australian Bloodstock’s 2022 winner Gold Trip.
Australian Bloodstock director Jamie Lovett told Betsy.com :‘’In my view and a few others, Zahra is probably the best two-mile rider, the best staying rider we’ve got.
“And obviously, a lot of the connections have got a good relationship with him, so it just made sense.”
“That said, I feel sorry for the kid [Browne McMonagle]. I mean, he’s rode him very well. He’s always been on the horse in Ireland, so it wasn’t easy to make the decision, but I think history shows that the local guys tend to have a better strike rate.”
He continued: “There’s not many Ryan Moores of the world that you can drop them anywhere and they ride up to a very high standard.
“I think the biggest thing, in my view, is knowing the horses to follow and the jockeys to follow. If you don’t know the form and the local riders, it’s a long two miles around Flemington and if you get it wrong, it can cost you a Melbourne Cup.
“So it’s just important to have the guys that know the track inside out and it’s a very unique race, the Melbourne Cup.”
“And I always say to people, if you’re looking for someone who can perform on a big stage, you look at [Zahra’s] ride on Without a Fight [in 2023 Melbourne Cup]. I think it’s one of the best rides I’ve seen in a Melbourne Cup.”