Michael Duggan
Clarecastle native, Gearoid O’Loughlin, is a trainer going places.
Having spent time honing his skills with such learned men as Jim Bolger, Martin Brassil, Enda Bolger and the Costello clan here in County Clare, the former amateur jockey is currently in-situ at Chris Jones’ Killeen Glebe Estate in County Meath.
A pristine 200-acre establishment just outside Dunsghaughlin, Jones’ place combines buying and selling store horses with an ever-expanding training operation.
This year, Jones, who used to have most of his string with leading trainer Gordon Elliott, has opted to keep more of his horses at home, where O’Loughlin will oversee their preparation.
This arrangement allows the Clare man to keep a few of his own horses too and he was on the mark at Tramore last Thursday where his Whatsyourstatus ran out a facile winner of the Waterford Greenway Beginners’ Chase.
The 17/2 shot was originally due to be ridden by Conor McNamara, but he was stood down by the course Doctor following an earlier fall, with talented 3Ib claimer Ricky Doyle a late replacement aboard the son of Ask.
Prominent throughout this two-mile, five-furlong contest, Whatsyourstatus went to the front two out. From here it was just a matter of how far, as the seven-year-old coasted to a 14-length victory over runner-up Champagne Beauty.
Speaking to The Clare Champion this week, O’Loughlin, whose silks are white with black dots (Clarecastle GAA colours), said: “It’s great to get a win with this horse. He’s very consistent and always gives of his best. I’ve been running him over too short a trip and he’s really come into his own since we stepped him up in distance. He has picked up close to €18,000 in win and place money so far and, hopefully, he’ll win a few more races for us.
“It’s unfortunate for Conor that he missed out on a winner, but Ricky actually rode him in a bit of work up the Curragh for me earlier last week, so at least he knew the horse. It’s great for him too as it was his 50th winner and he has now lost his claim as result. He gave him a super ride.
“Racing is very, very competitive in Ireland at the moment. All the top trainers have plenty horses to run in nearly every race, so any winner is welcome. We’ll look at possibly an amateur riders’ Chase for him at Listowel this Saturday or we might wait for a three-mile hurdle at Roscommon on Monday,” he concluded.
Red-letter day for Cratloe teenager McDonagh
Last Monday is a date 19-year-old Cratloe jockey, Mark McDonagh, will never forget as he rode his first ever winner aboard Blackjack Boy on day two of the 2020 Listowel Harvest Festival.
To make it even more special, Blackjack Boy is part-owned by his jockey’s father Mark McDonagh senior, his uncle Daragh McDonagh and Sixmilebridge business man Dominick Murphy who are all members of the Upside Down Partnership, whose colours the gelding carried to victory
Trained at Rathkeale in County Limerick by former international show jumper Eric McNamara, Blackjack Boy was one of 16 runners in the JP McManus-sponsored two-mile Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Making his handicap debut off a mark of 100 following three promising maiden hurdle outings, Blackjack Boy (11/2 joint-favourite) travelled sweetly until storming to the front on the run to the second-last hurdle.
McDonagh, a grandson of Cratloe owner-trainer Michael McDonagh, stylishly kept his mount going forward before passing the line two-and-a-half lengths ahead of another local hope, Happy Company, who is trained in Quin by Paddy Hassett.
Winning trainer McNamara remarked: “He’s is a nice horse and I’m delighted for his jockey Mark McDonogh. He hadn’t ridden a winner before this, so he was able to claim a 4lbs allowance which was a big addition. Mark is a lovely young fellow and is a very nice rider.
“I’m delighted for him and the whole family in general. His father, also Mark, is away at the moment, but he’ll have been watching on TV and will be as proud as punch of his son. I expect Blackjack Boy will keep improving and being by Presenting he thrives on a bit of nice ground. Hopefully, it’ll be onwards and upwards from here with him now,” he added.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.