Gilligan takes another step in American adventure with first stakes win

Former Sir Mark Prescott apprentice Jack Gilligan is making waves in Kentucky, where he recently won his first stakes race at Turfway Park.

The 20-year-old, son of former Newmarket trainer Pat, has racked up no fewer than 144 winners and more than $2 million in prize-money since moving to the US in 2014.

Before his Stateside switch, which came about after an exchange visit to the North American Racing Academy, Gilligan partnered four winners from 27 rides in Britain in 2013-14. His subsequent success has led to the rest of his family selling their yard at the bottom of Warren Hill to follow him across the Atlantic.