Louise White singing a beautiful Irish tune

By Jordan Gerrans

Irish Songs has already taken Louise White to heights her career as a trainer was yet to reach and the team are hopeful there is more to come across the Queensland Summer Racing Carnival.

The veteran sprinter handed the former jockey her maiden black-type victories as a conditioner through the winter and spring months of 2023.

White thinks the eight-year-old still has plenty left in the tank ahead of Saturday’s Listed Recognition Stakes at Doomben.

The Sunshine Coast-based trainer was yet to have a galloper finish in the money in a black-type race before the son of Shamus Award arrived at her stable.

The combination quickly racked up a pair of feature victories, landing the Listed Glasshouse Handicap on her home track before adding the Listed Tattersall’s Members Cup not long after.

Irish Songs’ performances have put White’s name up in bright lights and she hopes the dream run she is enjoying with the horse can be a launching pad for further Group-level successes.

“It has been fantastic to have a horse like him from where I was at,” the former jockey said.

“He has been a fantastic stepping stone and came at the right time.

“Everything was a little bit quiet with a small team and to get a horse with his ability going into big races with a genuine chance, it was very exciting.

“It is pretty much what we live and work for. He has definitely been a very big help to setting up my training career.

“He has been a good step in the right direction and given me plenty of opportunities.”

Irish Songs did his early racing in NSW with trainer Kurt Goldman before heading north at the end of 2022.

He has been a revelation in the Sunshine State.

Irish Songs was regularly competitive in Group company for Goldman and he has continued to thrive for White.

He has won on four occasions so far this year with a few more opportunities to come before 2024 begins.

“He had brilliant form earlier in his career and had been fairly consistent right the way through but he had just tapered off before we got him,” White said.

“It was always a matter of hoping you can get him back to that original type form, that he has done.

“He is obviously not a young horse so for him to reach what he has done at this stage of his career and keep going is great.”

The bay gelding – who is nearing $1 million in career stakes – returned in the Keith Noud earlier this month where he hit the line well to finish just under three lengths behind the winner.

He steps out to a more preferred trip of 1350 metres on Saturday in the Listed Recognition Stakes.

Larry Cassidy – who was in the saddle for the Glasshouse Handicap triumph – picks up the ride this Saturday, as well.

White plans to give Irish Songs a couple more starts in the coming weeks before finding a suitable race for him at the redeveloped Gold Coast early next year.

“I was really happy with his first run, it was pretty much what we wanted,” the Caloundra trainer said.

“It was spot on with where we thought he was at and he peaked on his run in the final 100 metres.

“He will definitely come on from that first-up run because he had a let-up after his trip to Sydney.

“I am really looking forward to Saturday’s race, he is pretty spot on.”

As of Friday morning, Irish Songs is a $10 chance with bookmakers in the black-type event. 

White rode between 2005 and 2007, collecting four winners in her short career.

In the early stages of her journey in racing White was mentored by Hall of Fame trainer Les Bridge.

It was the Randwick-based Bridge who suggested White go into training when she was considering going back to race riding earlier in her life.

White – who has been preparing her own team for just over a decade - still turns to the respected Bridge for advice and guidance with her team of horses and will speak to him often.

She has six in work at Caloundra and eight in total on her books.

Leather Jacket Lew from White’s team won the Beaudesert heat of the Jericho Cup earlier this month.