Charlie Swan with son Harry and parents Teresa and Donald after Rogue Trader had won © Photo Healy Racing
Charlie Swan notched a winner in the final days of his training career at Navan today, as his Rogue Trader landed the opening 2015 Navan Membership Maiden Hurdle, winning in the colours of John Magnier and amateur jockey Nina Carberry.
It had been thought that soon-to-be retired Swan's final runners were at Gowran on Thursday and while he is due to "probably have two more runners" in the coming week, the former nine times Champion Jockey today indicated that he may still retain some interest in the training ranks, albeit at a much lower level.
Following Rogue Trader's easy 12 lengths win, Swan stated "it's sad but it's great he's (Rogue Trader) won as we've always thought a lot of him.
"I have no regrets and I've enjoyed it. It's not an easy game and with the way things are if you don't have the numbers it's not really viable. I'll probably have two more runners, Drumlee on Thursday and a filly on the Flat at Dundalk on Friday.
"I've been 20 years as a jockey and 15 as a trainers and I'm happy to so something else. I might train the odd one for a bumper in our own colours and a few point-to-pointers."
Rogue Trader, which runs in the colours of Coolmore supremo John Magnier and was ridden today by his Ballydoyle employee and work rider Nina Carberry, is now set to join trainer Tom Taaffe and Swan added "things just didn't go right for him in Leopardstown although obviously that was a lot hotter race.
"He won his bumper by 13 lengths and now his maiden hurdle by 12. He's a staying type of horse but he's not slow and he's a chaser in the making. They went a strong gallop and Nina used her brain as I told her to make it.
"I'm dropping him in to Tom Taaffe on the way home."
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
