From the first moment I realised that I was going to be too tall to make it as a jockey, I set my sights on becoming a trainer. Earlier this month, I sent out my first winner since receiving a licence, when Pinar Del Rio won at the Curragh. Last Thursday, that same horse doubled my tally when following up on his next start at Limerick.

My uncle, Sean Cahill, trained horses just up the road from us at home in Thomastown in Kilkenny. While he only ever had small numbers, he did well with what he had. From the time I was six or seven, I would have been in the yard looking at what was going on. I went racing with him when he had runners.

Sean showed me how to ride, then I got going on the racehorses when I was 10 or 11. Around first year in secondary school, I started pony racing. I had just started a weekend job with Jim Bolger and Ronan Whelan was there at the time. He put me in touch with an uncle of his, Pat “Buddy” Harrison, who trained flappers.

Over the next few years, up to about age 16, I rode 70-odd winners. I won races at Dingle. Buddy had some good horses: Last Chance Paddy was one that was very good. He won all around him. In my era were lads such as Rossa Ryan, Danny and Mikey Sheehy and Pat Taaffe.

Too tall

I rode pony racing at the weekends but I was in Jim Bolger’s throughout school holidays and any weekends I wasn’t riding. I loved it there. I learned loads and Jim was very good to me. Although I went there with the intention of becoming an apprentice, I got too tall and just didn’t have the interest to go over jumps.

After I finished school, I went to work as an exercise rider for Willie McCreery. Buddy Harrison, who was working there at that time, got me the job in the yard. By then, I knew I wanted to one day train, so I was keen to gain more experience as well as seeing what the Curragh was about. I was with Willie McCreery for two and a half years. Like Jim Bolger before him, he was a great boss to work for.

My uncle Sean (Cahill) renewed his licence in 2021, renting a yard on the Curragh. I wasn’t old enough to apply for a trainer’s licence of my own, so I went in as assistant trainer to him for the year. He has always been a great supporter of mine and I owe him a big thanks. Two years ago, I was granted a licence and have been based out of Joe Canty’s yard.

To be honest, I didn’t have that many runners the first year, or last year. Pinar Del Rio had run very well on just his second start for us when sixth in the Scurry (handicap) despite being out of the weights. His form filtered off towards the end of the year but we knew from the Curragh run that we had a decent horse on our hands. Paddy Twomey, who originally trained the horse, gave him to Kathleen Whelan. He said that the horse had plenty ability but needed time to come right.

Getting the job done

We thought that Pinar Del Rio would win on his first run back last month but he got beat a short-head at the Curragh. It was great to get the job done a couple of weeks later when he won under Ronan (Whelan). He then went to Limerick last week where he made it back-to-back wins. At the moment, the plan is to run at the Curragh on Guineas weekend, although we are undecided whether to run on the Saturday or the Sunday.

I have nine horses in training right now, including a couple that I am looking forward to. Beaumadier, who was second in a Sligo claimer on his first run for us earlier this month could be well-handicapped. Figaruso, who was runner-up in a three-year-old hurdle at Killarney on his first start over jumps, is also a nice horse. We are expanding all the time; there is plenty of room here. Hopefully if we can continue to train a few more winners it will attract the interest of new owners.

I am very lucky to have a great bunch of lads that come in to ride out or school horses. Aidan Kelly, Peter Smithers, Danny and Mikey Sheehy, Dillon White and Nathan Crosse are invaluable to us. I learned so much everywhere I worked over the years, so I try and bring that to my own training.

For example, I like the way Jim Bolger does things with a good horse. His attention to detail is second to none. He never got stressed over a good horse if it had a setback or anything like that. I feel you have to be like that as a trainer. I don’t really believe in setting goals with regard to number of winners or the like. For me, the most important thing is to get the best out of every horse I have; getting them to reach their full potential. If I can achieve that, I will be happy.

Joe Conlon was in conversation with John O’Riordan.