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A jockey never forgets their first winner and teenage prodigy Ethan O’Sullivan is hoping his will be the first of many as he looks to follow in the footsteps of heroes Ruby Walsh and Davy Russell.

The 17-year-old from Waterford recently enjoyed a Saturday to savour at Gowran Park, steering Great Island to a convincing 16-length Joe Bollard Memorial Handicap Hurdle success to get off the mark in style.

The taste of success was as delicious as the meal that followed it for O’Sullivan, who is still buzzing from his first trip to the winner’s enclosure.

“When I was turning for home and was in front, I didn’t know what to think,” he said.

“As I went past the line, I was absolutely speechless. It was the best feeling I’ve ever had, it was unbelievable.

“I was in Killarney the next day so I just went home after, had a bit of dinner – mum cooked a lovely roast – and then I went to bed. We didn’t do much celebrating at all.

“My parents are my main supporters but they weren’t at Gowran for the winner, so they were fuming.

“My father has been at nearly all of my rides so far and that was the one he missed, so he was sickened. Hopefully there will be another one soon.”

O’Sullivan’s introduction to the sport came through his father, who was involved in the ownership scene, and he began attending riding school aged seven.

He learned his trade under Robert Widger while he was inspired by his cousin, Kevin O’Sullivan, a successful rider on the point-to-point circuit.

“I went and stayed with him because I thought I’d love to give this a whack,” he said. “Ever since then, I’ve loved it.

“I left school when I was 16 and I went up to the RACE academy in Kildare. I was working in Peter Fahey’s for 18 months and I had my first two rides for Peter on the flat.

“All the lads in the yard were unbelievable, they couldn’t help me enough. There’s a lot of good riders in there and I was picking stuff up off them the whole time.

“I learned loads there and Peter was so nice, the nicest person you could meet. He looked after me very well.”

Having since moved back home to Waterford, O’Sullivan is gaining experience at the yards of Henry de Bromhead, Widger and Margaret Flynn as the learning curve continues.

He has also been fortunate to pick up nuggets from some of the best in the business along the way, which has only served to add further fuel to his motivational fire.

“Davy Russell is a big role model, and Ruby Walsh,” he said.

“Watching them on the telly, they’re amazing. If I can be half the jockey they are, I’ll be flying, they’re brilliant.

“I’ve met them both, Davy is a good friend of Robert’s, so I met him at the shows and it was mental.

“It’s a mad feeling to even be talking to them, I’ve grown up seeing them on the telly winning some of the biggest races. It’s crazy.”

O’Sullivan remains yet to meet another illustrious name in AP McCoy but he takes inspiration from the 20-time champion jockey’s notorious words of wisdom.

“He used to say after every ride, he learned something,” he said.

“He would always be bettering himself even to the day he retired. That’s a big thing for me – I want to get better and keep improving.

“After every ride, I look back at it with the likes of Robert or Davy Roche, and we always pick out what I’ve done wrong and where I could be better.

“I want to improve on my mistakes. It all comes with experience and hopefully in a year’s time I’ll be even better.”

O’Sullivan’s more immediate focus is combining milestones. He turns 18 on November 19 and is allowing himself to dream of the best possible present.

“A winner on my 18th? That would be the best birthday ever.”