Image © Healy Racing
Gerald Quinn continued his strong association with Toomebridge on Saturday when saddling a treble on the opening day of the new point-to-point season, with all three winners partnered by Noel McParlan.
The Broughshane-based handler won half of the six-race card through L’Alpagueur, Doagh and Crazy Nancy, taking his tally at the venue to 15 and bringing up his 60th career winner between the flags.
“We’re delighted with the three winners,” Quinn said.
L’Alpagueur gave the Caherty team their first success of the campaign with an impressive debut in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, making all in the colours of Philip McBurney.
The French-bred son of Born To Sea jumped fluently under McParlan before drawing clear to beat Gortahara by eight-and-a-half lengths, confirming the promise he had shown at home.
“We fancied him. His homework is phenomenal. He’s very, very fast. He’d probably be a very good two-miler in time.
“His jumping was always very slick and his homework was very good.”
Bought privately in France as a yearling, L’Alpagueur is out of a half-sister to Port Joulain. His debut had been delayed as Quinn gave the sizeable gelding time to develop, while health issues within the yard also restricted opportunities last season.
“He’s a big horse, about 16.3hh, and he just took a wee bit more time to come to himself.
“Our horses weren’t healthy last year. We only ran three four-year-olds. We just couldn’t get the run of the green.”
Doagh completed a quick double for the same connections when making a successful debut in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The son of Idaho was given a patient ride as Lupin Du Chenet established a huge early advantage. McParlan allowed his mount to find his rhythm before closing on the tiring leader and taking command approaching two out, eventually scoring by 21 lengths.
Quinn felt the race had worked out favourably for his gelding, but expects the experience to bring him forward.
“He’s a big, raw, backward five-year-old who just took time and was growing all the time.
“The race sort of fell into his hands. I don’t know how good a race it was, but the job was done.”
Both winning geldings are available for sale, with L’Alpagueur potentially heading to the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale if not sold beforehand.
“There have been a few people on the phone who are very interested, so something might happen by the end of the week.”
Crazy Nancy completed the treble with a particularly popular success for the local Brown Kerr family in the five-year-old-and-upwards mares’ maiden.
The seven-year-old homebred daughter of Conduit had been beaten just a head in the corresponding race last season, but her return to the winner’s enclosure represented considerably more than a maiden success.
A serious cut sustained at Farmacaffley last season had threatened her racing future, with Quinn keen to acknowledge the work of vet Sarah Smith in helping her recover.
“She got a very bad cut. It was nearly career-ending for her. She struck into herself badly.
“Our vet, Sarah Smith, took her home and kept her for six weeks, flushing it and patching her up. There was one stage when it didn’t look like she was going to make it.”
Returning from a 217-day absence, Crazy Nancy produced a polished front-running display under McParlan, quickening into the straight and staying on well to beat Mount Heather by seven lengths.
The victory was an emotional one for connections, with Quinn pleased to reward the Brown Kerr family’s longstanding support.
“Robert’s a great supporter. He’s been there since I’ve been there.”
Crazy Nancy came out of the race in good order and will now be aimed at winners’ company.
“She’ll go for a winners’ race in the next couple of weeks.”
Katkoriko almost supplied a fourth success, narrowly failing to reel in Western Wishes on his first appearance since impressively winning a Kirkistown four-year-old maiden in March 2025.
The Cokoriko gelding had been sidelined by a niggly injury, and Quinn expects him to improve considerably for the outing.
“He wasn’t fully tuned up for the day. He just needed the run and hopefully he’ll improve from it.
“Hopefully he’ll go to Loughanmore in two weeks’ time.”
There was sadness for the team, however, with the loss of the promising Bon Lu Springs, who suffered a fatal injury in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden.
“We had bad luck in the first. She was running a cracker and getting into it. It was very disappointing for owner Robbie Armstrong and the syndicate.”
Saturday’s treble continued an excellent record at Toomebridge, where Quinn saddled a four-timer in May 2024 and recorded doubles at both fixtures last season.
The meeting had again been in his plans as he prepared the team for the autumn campaign.
“Our horses seem to jump well and travel well there. The horses we ran at the weekend were ones we had pinpointed for Toomebridge.”
Quinn will go to war with around 40 horses at Caherty, compared with 60 last year, with a strong group waiting to run following the interruptions of the previous campaign.
“There’s a backlog of four-year-olds to run this season because we couldn’t keep the horses healthy last year.
“There are a few nice ones there to come out early.”
The younger team is smaller, with around nine three-year-olds being prepared for the spring campaign.
“It’s more quality than quantity for us going forward.”
McParlan continues to play an integral role in preparing the horses, while Dara McGill has become an important presence at the yard.
“Noel comes in one day a week and Dara McGill is in four days a week. He’s a great asset to the team this year.”
Philip McBurney’s contribution also remains central to Caherty’s progress, from sourcing the young horses and providing the facilities to helping with the daily work. A hands-on presence around the yard, his involvement and enthusiasm for racing are valued by Quinn and the team.
With three winners already on the board, Quinn is hoping to build on last season’s return of 13, although selling horses remains essential to the operation.
“We’re hoping to better our tally every year, but we probably don’t have as many horses this year.
“You need to be selling horses to keep the whole ball rolling.”
Crazy Nancy’s success brought up his 60th pointing winner since sending out his first runners during the 2016/17 season, a milestone Quinn had not realised he was approaching.
“That’s great. Fantastic. I’ll try to get another 60 now!”
