In the highly competitive world of Irish horse racing, making a name for oneself as a new trainer is a significant achievement. Cian Collins, a Navan-based trainer, has rapidly distinguished himself in his inaugural season, demonstrating remarkable success and potential. His journey into training is rooted in a lifelong passion for horses, nurtured by family involvement and early experiences in pony racing and show jumping.
Collins’s path to becoming a trainer was shaped by his desire to work within the racing industry. He spent a year and a half with the esteemed trainer Dessie Hughes before moving to Gordon Elliott’s renowned Cullentra yard. Initially aspiring to be a jockey, a career-ending injury redirected his focus. This pivotal moment led him to transition from riding to training, a decision that has clearly paid dividends. His six years at Elliott’s stable provided a strong foundation and invaluable experience for launching his own training career, which commenced 11 months prior to this report. At the time of speaking, Collins had already achieved 10 winners, further bolstered by a one-two finish in a mares’ hurdle at Killarney on a recent Thursday. “I’ve had 11 winners on the track, I’m very happy with how it’s gone,” Collins stated, reflecting his satisfaction with his debut season’s progress.
A crucial element for any new trainer’s success is securing a standout horse. Collins experienced this fortune when owner Tommy Sheridan entrusted the spirited mare Effernock Fizz to his care after her previous trainer retired from licensing. Effernock Fizz quickly became a flagship for the young trainer, showcasing his abilities and becoming instrumental in his breakthrough season. The mare delivered a significant victory in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las under jockey Sam Ewing in October. This win marked Collins’s first as a trainer and was a defining moment. Effernock Fizz also narrowly missed victory at the Cheltenham October meeting and later represented Collins’s stable in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, in addition to securing another win at Ludlow in February. Reflecting on his career highlights, Collins noted, “She was brilliant, I was very lucky to have her. That win in the Welsh Champion Hurdle would have been the highlight and Mighty Tom winning the listed race in Killarney was very good too.”
Effernock Fizz, a key horse for Cian Collins's training success
At the start of his venture, Collins was managing around 30 horses in various stages of training. He currently maintains a similar number, but with an increased number of runners. Following in the footsteps of successful yards like Elliott’s, Collins’s raids into Britain have proven fruitful, with four of his winners coming from across the Irish Sea. Fiveonefive was the most recent victor, triumphing at Cartmel at the beginning of the month. Collins described his British excursions positively: “It’s going well, going over, I’ve had a few winners over there. It’s straightforward going over, it’s a bit costly but when they win, it’s well worth it.”
Collins is leveraging the expertise of seasoned jockeys, notably Denis O’Regan, who rode Fiveonefive. He acknowledged their significant contribution: “Denis is a big part of the team and helps us out a good bit, and so does Davy Condon. They are a great help, they are both Grade 1-winning jockeys. You can’t go too far wrong with them.” Looking ahead to the upcoming jumps season, Collins articulated his ambition: “I’d like to get a bit bigger and keep getting the winners, that’d be the main plan, as many winners as you can.” His promising start and clear strategic vision position Cian Collins as a noteworthy and ambitious figure in the future of Irish horse racing.
