By MIKE DILLON
The Kiwi lifestyle and a New Zealand girlfriend mean more to talented Irish jumps jockey Finbar Leahy than money.
Which is what allowed him to ride his first New Zealand winner, Fair Brother, at Counties yesterday.
The 26-year-old had no real intention of either riding in New Zealand or staying when he and Cambridge girlfriend Tammy Goodman arrived here in March. Now both are real goals.
"I just love the lifestyle here," says the self-confessed sports fanatic.
"You can go waterskiing anytime and snow skiing at the moment. Those are things you can't do all year around in England or have the time to do at all when you are busy riding over there."
Despite his relatively young age for a jumps jockey, Leahy has the impressive record of having ridden 95 winners over fences in England.
More than a year ago he and Goodman, whom he met while working in English stables, decided it was time to travel.
They went through the United States, France and Italy before arriving here.
They landed jobs at Bruce and Maureen Harvey's Cambridge pre-training and spelling operation, Ascot Farm, and Bruce Harvey talked Leahy into calling into Ken Browne's property.
"Ken became very interested when he found out my riding record and I was pleased my first winner came from his stable."
Now Leahy is serious about the possibility of settling and developing his career in New Zealand.
"I'm going to try and put down some roots and see what happens.
"The money here is not as good as it is in England, but the lifestyle more than compensates."
In winning on Fair Brother in the Counties Inn Steeplechase at Pukekohe yesterday, Leahy beat the Browne's No 1 rider Michelle Hopkins on the favourite, Arab Hunter.
Fair Brother landed just in front over the last fence and held on despite a determined bid from Arab Hunter.
Racing: Lifestyle key to Kiwi move
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