26 November 2010 Quinlan Making a Name For Himself
by Carolyn Tanner
JACK QUINLAN (right): aboard The Railway Man at Cottenham
photo: Jackie Oliver
A young rider who has been plying his trade to some effect under Rules is Newmarket-based Jack Quinlan, who made the perfect start to his Point-to-Point career when scoring on his debut ride a year ago.
Taking into account Noel Quinlan's background - he has trained Pointers and prepared horses for the sales and for racing, and is currently assistant trainer to his brother Mick - it is no surprise that his son has ridden for as long as he can remember. Jack, now 18, was a keen Pony Club member and has been riding out for his father and uncle, for whom he now works, from the age of nine. His determination to succeed was shown by his decision to have some private tuition and sessions on the equicizer with Richard Perham at the British Racing School.
His pony Gemini was a star of the East Anglian pony racing circuit, winning the area final and finishing third in the inaugural national final at Wincanton. The riders who filled the first two places on that occasion were Felix de Giles and Hadden Frost, both now successful professional jockeys who have ridden out their claim, and Jack is hoping to follow in their footsteps.
"I was going to turn conditional fairly soon, but Dave Roberts [the leading jockeys' agent who has recently taken Jack on his books] advised me to wait until I'd had a bit more experience," he explained. "So I'll have one more season Pointing and probably turn in the summer."
Jack, who obtained his Category ‘B' licence last February, is already partnering many of the yard's runners under Rules, but he has a refreshing attitude and realises his limitations when it comes to taking on the big boys. The useful Plan A, recently third to the highly-regarded Sam Winner in Cheltenham's Triumph Hurdle Trial, is a case in point. "I haven't yet got the experience or the strength to compete with the top riders in a race like that," he admits, "so it's only common sense to put up people like A.P. or Jamie Moore."
His rapid improvement in both attributes, though, will have been spotted by anybody seeing him lift home Joan D'Arc at Fakenham a fortnight ago.
In October Jack was invited by Sarah Oliver, Chief Executive of the Amateur Jockeys' Association, to represent Great Britain in the finale of the Fegentri World Cup of Nations in the United States. Because it was a flying visit, during which he had just two rides, neither of which made the frame, there was no time to look at the training centres, so a longer sojourn to rectify the omission is on his future agenda.
Not too many teenagers will openly praise their mother, but Jo Quinlan gets the thumbs-up from Jack - "She works really hard and does a fantastic job," he says. Jo currently has three Pointers in her yard, although the family is looking to purchase another couple from Ireland. Two of the trio are unraced maidens, but the third is the winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival, Cork All Star. Formerly trained by Jessica Harrington, Cork All Star has been off the track for two years, but Jack would like to qualify him for the Foxhunter Chase.
Jack is hoping to pick up some outside Point-to-Point rides this season, but so far offers have been slow to arrive. He has been schooling for John Ferguson, and stresses his availability to school and ride out for other trainers when required.
Another teenager looking for opportunities is Liam Ward, who works alongside Jack at the Quinlan yard and who had a few Point-to-Point rides for Jo last season. Liam has been honing his skills, with some success, in Arab racing through the summer.
