Four-horse trainer and logistics worker eyeing Group win with Galway heroine

Four-horse trainer Brian Duffy's prayers were answered last week when Magic Chegaga recorded a memorable win in Galway's richest Flat handicap, and now connections are daring to dream even bigger with their €12,500 bargain buy.

Victory in the €120,000 Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap capped one of the most compelling stories of the seven-day festival after Duffy's horsebox broke down on the way to the races, 90 miles from Galway outside a church in Kinnegad.

While waiting for help to arrive, the Meath-based trainer entered the church to say a prayer as he prepared to send out his first Galway festival runner.

Those intentions appeared to be heard loud and clear as Colin Keane got the sweetest of tunes from the 6-1 shot to score by half a length.

Duffy, who works a full-time job for a logistics company alongside his training duties, described the occasion as scarcely believable.

"It was great to be a part of the festival, even better to have a chance and to win was just incredible," he said.

Magic Chegaga: on course for a tilt at the Group 3 Snow Fairy Fillies StakesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"It was our mission to find that same church again on the way home from Galway and we ended up searching for it in the middle of the night. We could barely find it, but in the end we did. It all added to the whole day."

Magic Chegaga's rise to prominence looked an unlikely one after winning just one of her first seven starts for Dermot Weld, but the daughter of Teofilo has been a revelation for the Magic Lads Syndicate.

Duffy purchased the Moyglare Stud cast-off at a Goffs online auction in February 2021, bidding in between his work from home. She improved from a mark of 70 to 87 over the course of four starts for Tom Gibney last year and has continued that upward trajectory since being trained by Duffy this term.

"Everyone has been saying to me that she cost nothing, but in my head at the time, I felt we'd spent a fortune," said Duffy

"To come across a filly like that and to do what she's done is mad. People are paying small fortunes for horses like her, so we're very lucky. We can't really believe it. She has a nice pedigree and residual value as a broodmare in time too."

Brian Duffy on Magic Chegaga: 'We can't really believe it. She has a nice pedigree and residual value as a broodmare in time too'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

On what lies in store for the now 93-rated performer, Duffy added: "I think we'll try to get a bit of black type. She's now won a maiden and four handicaps, including a premier one, so I think she's entitled to take her chance in Group company.

"I've been thinking about the Group 3 Snow Fairy Stakes at the Curragh over nine furlongs [on August 27] – that trip should hopefully suit."

Despite his profile being raised by virtue of last week's Galway success, Duffy is in no rush to expand.

"I'll try to take little steps and keep it as it is for the moment," he said.

"We were doing it small-scale for our own couple of horses and I suppose when you have a big winner like this, you have more people asking you to take horses.

"We'll stay as we are for now but we could look to maybe try to get our facilities more up-to-date before thinking of opening our doors."

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