Loughlin records first winner Cashel based restricted trainer Hilary Loughlin achieved a notable feat when registering her first career winner at The Curragh today, with Phoebe Van Gelder which landed the Dermot Earley Memorial Handicap. The daughter of Choisir raced prominently before getting to the front well inside the final furlong of a short head win over Glanusk. A blanket, albeit a fairly large one, could have covered the first 15 finishers in a result which handicappers dream about. Amazingly, the extended distances for the first 15 finishers read: ‘sh, hd, hd, hd, nk, nk sh, nk, sh, nk hd, 1/2l, nk, hd’. Afterwards Loughlin stated “I’ve six horses riding out and I have my license about two years. My mother Catherine, who passed away last summer, bred and named all the horses.” “Phoebe Van Gelder hasn’t had a run since November and we decided to come to The Curragh as we would be assured of safe ground!” “Ideally we would love to get black-type for her as we have her dam (Three Pennies) at home.” Thomas Weekes
