Image © Healy Racing
Simon Cavanagh enjoyed a milestone in his training career at Cork on January 3rd when Milan Forth provided him with his first winner under rules, just weeks after the Mullingar native took out his track licence.
The success was particularly fitting, as Milan Forth has been a recent flagbearer for the burgeoning Drumloose Stables team, having already delivered plenty of success between the flags for Cavanagh, owner Patrick Whyte and rider Kevin Healy.
“It’s great to get off the mark,” Cavanagh said. “I only took out the licence in November, so to get a winner this quickly is very satisfying.”
Cavanagh admitted that the decision to step into training was one that had been building for some time, but Milan Forth ultimately provided the final nudge.
“It was kind of a no-brainer when I had a horse like him,” he explained. “Patrick and my partner Aisling really gave me the final push to go and take out the licence. People had been asking for a while was I going to do it, but last year kind of sealed it.”
Well recommended by Donnchadh Doyle, Milan Forth was viewed by agent Dan Astbury at Cavanagh’s request before being purchased by Patrick Whyte, who was keen to secure a nice, fun horse to help his grandson Kevin get started between the flags.
“He came very well recommended, and once we got him, he really turned into a proper horse for us.”
The gelding enjoyed a productive point-to-point campaign for Cavanagh last season, before going on to win twice in hunter chases for Paul Flynn and Adrian Murray, and Cavanagh acknowledged how difficult it was watching the gelding succeed elsewhere under rules.
“It was hard looking at him winning on the track for other people, and that probably helped make the decision for me.”
The Cork victory was also a landmark moment for Healy, who partnered Milan Forth to his first success as a conditional rider, having already ridden his grandfather’s gelding to multiple point-to-point wins.
“It was great to do it together, Kevin had a super year last year on him, and it’s brilliant for him to get his first conditional winner as well.”
Cavanagh was quick to hold his hands up regarding Milan Forth’s previous run at Thurles in the lead-up to Christmas, where the gelding was pulled up.
“That was probably on me,” Cavanagh admitted. “I just left him a little bit shy. He’s the type of horse that seems to thrive off his races and usually improves for a run. He showed that at Cork and he ran right through the line.”
Looking ahead, Cavanagh is keen to build on the momentum but remains realistic about the size of his current operation. Alongside Milan Forth and one or two other horses under rules, he also has around ten point-to-pointers in training.
“We wouldn’t have a whole pile for the track at the minute.
“Milan Forth and one or two others, but he’s definitely the main one we have right now. There’s always room for more though, and we’re open to anyone who wants to get involved.”
Future plans for Milan Forth have yet to be finalised, but Cavanagh is keen to find suitable opportunities on better ground.
“He’d want a bit nicer ground and a flatter track, somewhere like Cork suits him well. We wouldn’t be against stepping him up in class again if there was a suitable race. The Dublin Racing Festival wouldn’t be out of the question either if there is a race that suits.”
Alongside the training operation, Drumloose Stables has also made a strong early impression as a sales and consigning outfit, a side of the business largely driven by Cavanagh’s partner Aisling.
“She does most of the work on that side of it.
“We sold a homebred at the Derby Sale last year that topped the Part 2, and if people want to send horses our way, we’re very open to that.”
A successful amateur rider himself with 41 point-to-point winners and around ten track victories, Cavanagh admitted that training brings a different level of pressure compared to riding, but he is well supported, particularly by his father Richard, whose colours have long been familiar on the pointing circuit.
“There’s definitely more pressure,” he admits. “The jockey gets down and gives feedback, but the trainer has to go and figure out what the problem is, keep owners happy, keep staff happy, and keep the whole thing ticking over.”
For now, however, the focus is firmly on continuing to build his operation, with Milan Forth providing a timely boost.
“If we could have a good season with him and maybe get one or two new owners into the yard, I’d be delighted.
“You just aim to get as many winners as you can and keep improving.”
“You just aim to get as many winners as you can and keep improving.”
