Louise Dillon grabs first winner as a trainer

By Jordan Gerrans

After tasting success as a trainer for the first time this week, Louise Dillon has a new priority in the racing industry.

The 40-year-old was a dual-licensed trainer and jockey during the later stages of 2022, riding her own first seven starters as a trainer. 

The Sunshine Coast-based Dillon has not ridden in a race so far this year, instead handing the job to Kelly Gates on race day.

After suffering a few falls in recent years, the native Kiwi admits she has lost a little confidence with her race riding and will now focus the majority of her attentions on conditioning the gallopers.

The Dillon stable broke through for their maiden victory earlier this week at Kilcoy as the resuming Dratini won by two lengths in Benchmark 65 grade.

While Dillon still loves riding her own track work – as well as for other stables – the breakthrough training effort might just be the start of things.

“I think I will concentrate more so on the training side of things going forward,” she said.

Dratini shot out of the gates from the eight alley at Kilcoy on Tuesday, leading the entire way over 1200 metres.

The son of All Too Hard blitzed them in a recent Caloundra trial before his first-up assignment.

“It was awesome,” Dillon said about preparing her first winner as a trainer.

“I do not know if I really even watched the race as I was peeking through my fingers.

“I was not sure if he was fit enough for the race as he only had one trial.

“It was so good to see him win as he is such a good boy.”

The mature-aged apprentice had her first race rides back in the 2016-17 campaign, picking up all her 36 career victories on the country circuit in the Sunshine State.

As Dillon explains, it was a different emotional experience on Tuesday grabbing her first winner as a trainer, compared to riding.

“The training side of it is never ending, you are always thinking about what you need to do with your horses,” she said.

“When you are riding, somebody else does all the work on race day.

“It is nice to have someone riding your horse and them having that race pressure.

“I always found that side of riding hard, the pressure of it all.”

Dillon just has a couple of gallopers in work, last-start winner Dratini and Sock'emsid.

Sock'emsid is nominated for next Saturday’s rich Capricornia Yearling Sale 3&4YO Classic Handicap.

Sock'emsid ran third in last year's edition of the race and returns as a four-year-old this campaign.

Dratini could also join his stable mate in Central Queensland.

Dillon said she was comfortable having a small team of gallopers in work and was not looking to expand her numbers significantly.

As well as managing her team, Dillon also rides track work for leading Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke.

“I love it, he is awesome and the people are great at his stable,” he said.

“David is really good to me.”