Locals dominate at Morrow Park meet
Retiree-turned-trainer finally tastes victory at Atherton Turf Club
ONCE John Kilroy retired from working in the mines, he was finding it hard to fill in the days.
The Malanda-based Kilroy had been involved in horses his entire life, with polo cross, campdrafting and the like, and after to succumbing to boredom, he decided to take out his own thoroughbred training licence.
Kilroy got the tick of approval in March this year and after five luckless starts with Luvya Beak, he found his first winner as a trainer at Atherton Turf Club on Saturday.
With top hoop Stephen Wilson on board, Luvya Beak scored a stylish two-length victory in the $7000 Maiden Plate (1100m).
“She is still learning but she got there,” Kilroy said.
“It was great to get that first winner, it would have been better if my family were there to see it but they were down in Townsville.
“She is a different horse but she just keeps getting better. That was her sixth start and she has improved every time.”
Kilroy laughed that training horses is almost as difficult as working in the mines but he is certainly enjoying his new retirement job.
“Once I retired, I got a bit bored and I looked on the internet for the cheapest horse I could find and up she came from Victoria,” Kilroy said.
“It cost me more in freight to get her up to Malanda than it did to buy the horse.
“She had a good feel about her.”
Kilroy will consider sending the filly to Mareeba on Boxing Day in a few weeks time.
It was the locals day at Morrow Park on Saturday as Kilroy, Roy Chillemi and Gareth Horner grabbed three of the five races on offer.
Wilson, who has ridden six winners this month already, claimed a double at Atherton, on board for Chillemi and Kilroy.
Racing in North Queensland this week turns to Mackay on Thursday before Townsville on Saturday afternoon.
SHE IS STILL LEARNING BUT SHE GOT THERE … IT WAS GREAT TO GET THAT FIRST WINNER. THAT WAS HER SIXTH START AND SHE HAS IMPROVED EVERY TIME JOHN KILROY