PROFILE: SEAMUS CAHILL

Whelped in Mullinahone from the ‘Ardralla’ sire line out of the ‘Compsey’ distaff, he was schooled by two of the best dog men in Ireland. An experienced and prolific open race winner, Seamus Cahill was always a great prospect to land an English Derby – writes Floyd Amphlett.

Among the greyhound press, there are few more popular trainers than the Tipperaryman. Knowledgeable, honest, friendly, and always up for a bit of craic, Seamus’ whole life is immersed in greyhound racing.

He said: “I was born in Mullinahone. My parents ran the local cinema that converted into a dance hall and a draper’s. My mother Eileen died when I was six and as you can imagine, it completely changed everything. She left behind five boys aged between five and ten. Our father did an incredible job bringing us up. But it would make you wonder how something like that would have affected us all, without us really being aware of how much.

“I remember walking greyhounds when I was probably no more than six. By the time I was about 12, after school I would cycle six miles to walk the dogs for Father Kerrigan who would feed me and pay me half a crown a day.

“Although the family were involved in Crohane and Killenaule Coursing Club – we would get a day off school to catch hares for the traditional trialstake meeting on the first Thursday in December – it is really a ‘tracking’ family on both sides.

“On my father’s side, Mick Cahill and Rita Brown had the ‘Ardralla’ dogs. My mother’s brother, Willie O‘Brien, bred the ‘Compsey’ dog and they all had a bit of success. I seem to remember that they won the Guinness Trophy back in the 1960s.

“Part of the family were in Cork, and I can remember going to the old Western Road track when my uncle was looking to pull a touch with an Odd Venture bitch. That must have been 1963.”

 

Seamus’ own schooling began just up the road at Killenaule with the legend who was Matt O’Donnell.

By general consensus Matt was something of a Marmite character (personally I had a great relationship with Matt, and he once trained a dog for me), something that Seamus acknowledges.

He said: “Matt was a tough man and would call a spade a spade, but I thought he was a great character and a good guy. He was so knowledgeable and he had some fantastic greyhounds in the time when I was with him.”

Off and on, Seamus probably worked for Matt for 10 years, but also spent a year learning from the great Gay McKenna.

Although, in Britain, the surname is always associated with his legendary cousin Ger, Gay was just as famous in Ireland in the 1960s/70s, where among his many successes, were four Irish Derby winners.

So what did Seamus learn from two men whose combined total of classic successes would literally run into the dozens?

He said: “The ways they trained were nothing alike. Gay was an absolute stickler for routine and precision. The kennel would be opened at 8am, not five to, or five past. The dogs would be walked around a three acre field four times a day.

“There was a lot of time spent on grooming. The feed would always be weighed, and if checked a bowl and it was two ounces out, someone would be in trouble. The dogs were fed at 4pm, and the kennel was shut at 6pm on the dot.

“The dogs would be galloped twice a week, and coming up to the Derby the dogs would be taken to the Brae Strand and walked on the beach.

“Matt, on the other hand, would walk his dogs twice a day and they would be galloped three times a week. They would be fed heavier, not that he ever weighed the food, and would be galloped at least three or four times a week.

“Back in those days, both trainers would also rely heavily on the schooling tracks to keep their dogs fit.”

 

Seamus first came to England in 1982 to bring over Matt O’Donnell’s dogs for the Anglo-Irish International and won it with Brilliant Merry.

He said: “It was a memorable trip over for me. Matt brought most of the dogs over but I am glad I experienced White City. It was hugely impressive.”

Seamus had occasionally sourced runners for UK buyers including the Wimbledon 460m record holder Double Bid, who was owned by Jim O’Connor.

O’Connor, had previously owned the brilliant Dusty Trail, whom Paddy Milligan had trained to win the Scottish Derby, Pall Mall and Select Stakes.

When O’Connor heard that his trainer was looking for a new head lad, he recommended Seamus and a new chapter was about to unfold.

Seamus joined Paddy at Beaverwood Kennel near Sidcup in September 1994, and in December 1996, Paddy asked if he would like to take over the contract at Catford.

Beaverwood had been sold for development and in December 1997 Seamus moved into Arthur Boyce’s vacated kennel at Keston.

Seamus said: “Paddy was a classy guy. The way he ran his kennel and conducted himself. He was also very good to me and his contacts and owners helped me overcome a lot of problems that would have been much more difficult to deal with for a new trainer starting out.”

Kelva Flash was the first graded winner for the new kennel – their second runner – and the first stake winner was Lenson Blue Boy, who landed the Stanton Memorial for Len Ponder.

It wasn’t long before the Cahill strength grew too strong for Catford and after first missing out to Owen McKenna, Seamus finally landed a contract at Wimbledon. He replaced Arthur Hitch in January 2001.

Seamus retains great memories of Catford, which played a greater part in his life than he was to realise.

He got on very well with the racing office assistant who would check his dogs’ earmarks. She eventually moved to the tote office, but things would escalate following a chance meeting.

Seamus said: “I met Teresa again at Hove one night and we got chatting. Let’s just leave it by saying, ‘it all went from there’. . . “

The Cahill strength blossomed at Wimbledon and in 2002, he landed his first Category One event with Jimmy Fenwick’s British bred Shevchenko.

In 2005, John Mullins gave up his Walthamstow contract and Seamus was offered the job.

The Walthamstow stint only lasted just over three years before the track closed. But Seamus had long since been head hunted by Hove. Despite, his brief time there, the Stow made a big impression on him.

He said: “I absolutely loved Walthamstow. There was a huge buzz about the place on a Thursday and Saturday night.”

 

As the kennel reputation and open race points grew, Seamus nabbed his first invitation to the GTA Trainers Championship meeting in 2003, which was held at Sittingbourne (as it was known then) and won by Brian Clemenson.

It was another four years before the next opportunity, and it was another blank night with Charlie Lister celebrating at Hall Green.

The 2008 Trainers Championship meeting took place at Wimbledon and Charlie was favourite (as usual). Seamus was 8-1.

But it soon became obvious that Team Cahill were throwing down a serious challenge as Secretariat, Lethal Freddie and Big Brett Coal all scored maximums.

The competition went down to the final leg and a shoot-off between Seamus’ Kilkenny Longjack and Charlie’s Ninja Jamie. With a four point lead, Seamus only needed his runner to finish in front of the Lister representative, or no worse than fourth if Jamie was to win.

Longjack took matters into his own paws with an impressive victory, and Seamus got home by six points.

It was an emotional night for the Irishman, who had just days earlier buried his brother Thomas. Afterwards he and wife Teresa dedicated the victory to his memory.

 

There are many greyhounds associated with the Cahill kennel, but arguably none more than Jimmy Lollie.

Without doubt the greatest sprinter of his generation, Jimmy Lollie was far from an overnight success.

Seamus said: “Ted Soppitt phoned me and asked if I had an owner for a young British bred pup. I don’t remember why he wanted to sell him, I think it was because the dog was only a sprinter.

“I’d had a father and son from Romford who were looking for a dog, and I offered Jimmy to them for the same price I had paid Ted, £4,000.

“He was beaten in a few races over 400 metres at Romford and they came back and said, ‘he is a disappointment, we would like our money back’, which I duly gave them.

“At the same time Steve Gamblin and Peter Reed had both approached me looking for dogs. In the end, it was suggested that they buy Jimmy and a little bitch between them, and go in joint ownership on both.

“I don’t think the dog’s career ever looked back from that point on.”

Jimmy Lollie’s roll of honour shows two National Sprint titles, two Festival Flyer Finals at Sunderland and two Coral Sprints.

Apart from a string of track records, Jimmy had 76 wins and 26 seconds from 134 open races.

They included a swansong when he was drafted out of retirement to take his place in the 2012 Trainers Championship when he finished second to Sprinter of the Year Drumcove Lad.

In fact, five months off his fifth birthday, he won four of his next seven opens before going lame and being retired for good.

Jimmy spent several years as a family pet until finally succumbing to cancer.

Seamus said: “Steve Gamblin retired pretty much just to look after Jimmy when he became ill and nursed him until the end.”

 

2010 will be remembered by Seamus and Teresa as “the year of all years” and it is easy to see why.

Success started as early as February with Royal Honcho nabbing the Springbok.

There was a double at the Sunderland Festival courtesy of Jimmy Lollie (Flyer) and Ravin Giovanni (Puppy Plate). The pair soon added to their tallies with the Coral Sprint and Wimbledon Puppy Derby respectively.

Raving Black was the staying star who picked up the Cesarewitch and Champion Stakes.

The most lucrative 48 hours saw Sparklee Bernie take the Cat 1 Kent Derby, with Droopys Oscar collecting the similarly rated Puppy Classic.

Giovanni came back to take the Romford Puppy Cup and Jimmy Lollie signed off the year with his second National Sprint.

Seamus duly finished as champion trainer in 2010, both in terms of points scored and open races won.

He said: “It was an unbelievable time and incredibly hard work, a lot of travelling, but great fun at the same time.”

 

When it comes to ‘hurdle trainers’, most people would think of think of Ricky Holloway or Barrie O’Sullivan. Those from a previous era might reference Tom Foster. But there are few to match the record of Seamus Cahill.

Who can forget Top Jock (Champion Hurdle), Farloe Browny (National Hurdle), Druids Mickey Jo (Springbok, Champion Hurdle), Hotdog Jack (Springbok, Grand National), Royal Honcho (Springbok), Mash Mad Snowy (Grand National), Ballymac Manix (Springbok, Grand National, Champion Hurdle), and Caislean Fifi (Grand National)?

So, why the success and are hurdlers born or made?

Seamus said: “I have always liked hurdlers and it really started back at Catford. Although a few have been ungenuine on the flat, most were just dogs who were slightly short of top class on the flat, but showed an inclination to jump.

“In my view hurdlers are born, not made. You can’t really tell until you put them in company. If they take a bit of bumping and are not put off jumping, then you are more than halfway there.”

And the best of them all?

Seamus said: “It would have to be Druids Mickey Jo, he totally dominated the hurdle scene like no other dog I had.”

 

For any trainer, the ultimate prize is the English Derby. Millions have been spent trying to win it, but Astute Missile delivered at Towcester in 2017.

One of two finalists for the kennel, Missile was joined in the final by Droopys Acrobat.

A reminder of how it all happened

Missile was returned at 28-1 as the rank outsider on the night, though Seamus believes he was an underrated Derby winner.

He said: “The original story is that I was looking to buy his brother, the stayer, Karlow Turbo. I spoke to the owner Henry Kelly and we agreed on a price of £7,000. But I told him I was really interested in the litter brother, ‘the 525 dog’.

“Henry said that the dog wasn’t for sale but agreed to think about it. He called back a couple of days later, and we eventually agreed on a price of £19,000 for the pair. I really liked Astute Missile’s 525 Shelbourne form and was convinced that we had a bargain.

“I can imagine that people will look back and think ‘he only won the Derby’ and not give him the credit.

“But it is worth remembering that he was just coming good for the final. He did 28.92 in the final. Would he have been a 28-1 shot if he had done that run in the semis?”

Sadly, the world would never find out. Missile broke a hock in a preparatory trial for the Select Stakes.

He returned seven months later, clocked 28.16 in a trial over the Towcester 480m course, but was retired for good after two unsuccessful comeback races.

 

“Never back a dog first time out”

Seamus was given the advice from his old mentor Gay McKenna following an incident when the great man lumped on Catsrock Daisy on her debut.

Gay did his money, only to see Daisy become a superstar winning both the Irish Derby and Easter Cup.

Sadly, the lesson was lost on his protégé who fancied Farloe Style ‘for his life’ when the youngster made his debut in a puppy open on Derby Final night 2002.

Seamus said: “I had a grand on him before the meeting and another grand with Tony Morris on the night. He missed his break and came through the field to finish second. He then won his next five in a row.”

But the kennel had better luck with a young Druids Mickey Jo in the Maiden Derby that formed part of the 2004 Racing Post Festival at Walthamstow.

Backed ante post and on the night, connections collected £18K.

 

Asking Seamus to name the fastest dog he ever handled (see below) is almost cruel. We asked him to first cut down the number to six. Being a contrary Irishman, he had to sneak in a seventh.

Such is the depth of quality that this lot didn’t even make the seven: Milldean Billy, Milldean Buster, Farloe Style, Droopys Oscar, Southfield Jock, Ballymac Brogan, Crossfield Caesar, Live Annie, Crossfield Mollie, Droopys Acrobat, Banabane, Crossfield Giles, Droopys Gold and Forest Alan

And the Magnificent Seven?

Shevchenko: “He was my first big winner and won three competitions, the Gold Collar, the Greenwich Cup, and a very good British bred final at Walthamstow.”

Loughteen Blanco: “He won a William Hill Classic, a Henlow Derby, he also finished first and second in Sussex Cups. Great all round ability in the very best company.”

Droopys Odell: “We had his mother Droopys Quinta who went back to the Dunphys for breeding and they sent over Odell as part of the deal, as a sapling. He was runner-up in the Gymcrack, the Puppy Classic, Goals Galore Final at Sheffield and the 2014 Racing Post Juvenile.

Astute Missile: “I don’t think there is much to add to what I have already said.”

Sporting Dave: “Dave was given to Dave Dyer by Jerry Griffin as a young pup when another dog didn’t turn out as well as he had hoped. He won the Coral Puppy Trophy and the Sussex Cup and finished runner-up in the Derby Plate, Select Stakes, a Winter Derby, a second Sussex Cup and an Essex Vase. He gave us a lot of fun.

Forest Con: “Con won a Monmore Puppy Derby and reached an English Derby semi final. He was from a great litter and I honestly don’t think there was much between Dorotas Wildcat, Dorotas Woo Hoo and Con. Although our dog had great early pace, he wasn’t the most consistent breaker, and as a wide runner, that often worked against him.”

and the best of the lot?

Rayvin Giovanni:”It would have to be Giovanni, who was owned by Ray White and Vincent Walsh. He won three puppy competitions in the course of his first ten races and had massive potential prior to getting injured in his eleventh race.

 

2019 saw the end of an era with Sporting Dave, Caislean Fifi and Droopys Gold all retiring and the start of 2020 might have been a damp squib, but for a huge boost at Clonmel where Upper Hand landed the Irish Coursing Derby.

Seamus said: “We bought him at 12 weeks old from ‘Speedy’ Fowler, who works for Jimmy Buckley. He was the last in the litter and is owned by the five of us in the kennel plus Brendan Keogh and Simon Senyk.

“As far as the kennel is concerned, we actually lost about seven of our better dogs but we have some decent dogs to work with including Ravensburger, Aim For Glory, Smurfs Machine and a dog from the later litter to Ice On Fire called Cloudy Ozzie.

“At the moment we are just dealing with the Coronavirus business. There are five of us in the kennel and we are isolated from the world. Like everyone else, it is the uncertainty that gets to you.

“I saw the photos of Towcester and it was a great tonic. A track like Towcester is great even for trainers who are based many miles away and attached elsewhere. It gives our owners another reason to own good dogs.

“The days of traveling to place like Sunderland are long gone. But if we have Hove for Thursdays or Saturday opens, Central Park for Sundays and Towcester for Saturdays, it would really give you something to look forward to.”