Young trainer David Loughnane has come a long way in 12 months. He has already surpassed last season’s All-Weather Championships total of 21 winners and has broken into the top 10.
In fact, only four trainers have amassed more prize money than the young Irishman since the turn of the year - Richard Fahey, Mark Johnston, Stuart Williams and reigning champion Mick Appleby.
But it’s more about quality than quantity for the Shropshire-based handler, who is hoping to top off a productive winter with some clear chances on Finals Day at Lingfield Park on Good Friday.
Loughnane is preparing leading contender Fizzy Feet for what would be an emotional victory in the Sprint, as she carries the familiar emerald green silks of Dave Lowe who won the race with the brilliant Kachy in 2019.
He is also hoping to get Lowe’s improving filly Amber Island into the Fillies’ and Mares’ Final following her near miss in a Fast Track Qualifier at Chelmsford City, while Baby Steps may represent the same owner in the apprentice handicap.
The man from Galway hasn’t ruled out a possible crack at the Easter Classic with potential star Dark Pine, who has won both races since being snapped up as a maiden from Dermot Weld and in doing so has quickly soared to a mark of 93.
Loughnane, who is assisted by his wife Sarah, has also transformed exciting sprinter Tranchee this winter and hopes to win a heritage handicap en route to taking on the best at Pattern level on turf.
“He only just missed the cut for the dirt sprint in Saudi Arabia, but we’re not in a hurry with him,” says Loughnane. “He has an unbelievable constitution and is the type who could be campaigned overseas next year, but there’s a big pot in him at home first.”
Historic Helshaw Grange is full up with almost 70 horses in training and Loughnane has around 15 more in pre-training as he prepares to beat last year’s tally of 41, which included a first ever Group success with Santosha in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot last July.
“We’ve worked hard to improve the quality over the past year,” says Loughnane, who also ended 2020 as the leading trainer at his local track, Wolverhampton.
“We have a great bunch of owners who let us get on with the job and it’s been a big boost for the yard to get a horse from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, who has sent us a filly called Bint Al Anood.
“She won a novice for John Gosden but needed a change of scenery and came to me on a recommendation from Adrian O’Brien, who runs Hazelwood Stud in Newmarket. The plan is to build her profile on turf this summer so Sheikh Khalifa can breed from her.”
Whilst Loughnane looks forward to an exciting summer on turf, he hopes to achieve further success on the All-Weather with these stable stars whom he spoke to Simon Mapletoft about.
