West’s in-form duo plotting a major assault on Ballybrit

THEY are one of racing’s hottest owner/trainer properties this summer and their successful if unlikely alliance will be launching a strong assault on the Galway summer festival at Ballybrit next week.

The partnership between trainer Steve Mahon and Tom Quinn will be seven-years strong in September, and from relative humble beginnings, the Kilcolgan-based operation has really established itself as force on the Irish racing scene.

The pair would probably never have linked up only for a ‘tip off’ from Galway native Sean Monaghan, who used to work alongside Mahon at Jim Dreaper’s yard in Greenogue, Co Meath.

Monaghan informed his colleague that he knew of a Galway owner who was looking for a trainer. That individual was Tom Quinn who was keen to develop a training base on his land in Kilcolgan and had already seen his colours carried to a fair degree of success.

It’s almost 20 years ago since Quinn first dipped his toes into racing ownership. Having been heavily involved in the GAA as a player and administrator – he lined out for Ballinderreen in their county final defeat by Ardrahan in 1978 and also served as club chairman – he was looking for a new sporting pursuit.

Having always been interested in racing, he took the plunge as an owner and one of his first horses, the Pat Hughes trained Akasian, proved a great money-spinner; winning on a multitude of occasions, including at Galway. Quinn part-owned the horse, along with Oranmore’s Pat Furey and Gerald Love from Fermanagh. Akasian is now 23 and living out his retirement in Kilcolgan.

Kieran Purcell, the former Kilkenny hurler, also trained for Quinn, who won an All-Ireland U-21 medal with Galway in 1972, but he was beginning to find the long journeys of seeing his horses work tiresome. Quinn was also anxious to establish a strong training operation in the province.

“Once you go west of the Shannon, some racing people have little respect for you. We wanted to change that and, touch wood, things have been working out. The horses are running well and Steve is doing a great job here.”

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.