A delighted Daniel McLoughlin with Duckadilly© Photo Healy Racing
In an excellent way to get off the mark in the training ranks Daniel McLoughlin saddled a well-backed newcomer to deliver in the Nursery Of Champions Fillies Maiden at Naas, Duckadilly getting it done in the hands of Oisin McSweeney.
The sweet-travelling Duckadilly (11/2 from 8s on track, and bigger earlier) overcame an understandable touch of greenness to defeat the determined favourite Quadruple by a neck.
Said McLoughlin in the aftermath: “First winner and it’s great to get it — I’m over the moon.
“I bought her at the horses-in training sale as a two-year-old for 12,000. She just seemed very raw and immature so I gave her a bit of time.
“I let her out on a break and when I brought her back in she had grown and developed. She’s been doing everything right but actually hasn’t got a whole lot done, only a few half speeds. She hadn’t been off the bridle.
“I’m still an assistant trainer to Danny Murphy and only have four horses of my own. Two of the horses ran today (Bold Optimist was fifth in the sprint handicap) so I had half the yard out!
“I started off with Adrian Keatley when I was about 13 and was with him for about three years. He was brilliant to me and I still keep in touch with him.
“I was then in Dermot Weld’s for two years, with Jessica Harrington for a short while, and I was assistant trainer to Michael McCullagh for the last two years.
“Michael was absolutely brilliant to me. Oisin rides and Scott McCullagh also rides work.
“I’m on the Curragh in my uncle Paddy McLoughlin’s yard. He got me into racing and has worked in Dermot Weld’s for over 30 years. I’m training right next door to Eddie Harty’s yard.
“Chris (Mullins, owner) has always believed in me and he owns three of the four horses that I have.”
(AM & EM)
