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rested with his wife, Pauline, who eventually sold the Waterford-based company after 10 years to the Dutch giant Imtech. Eoin has fond memories of a youth spent lining out for the Mooncoin hurlers and accompanying his father to race meetings all over the country. Noel owned a number of racehorses, which fuelled Eoin’s passion for the ‘Sport of Kings’. The youngster’s fascination with all things equine led to him riding as an amateur jockey for three seasons and spending summers with the legendary Aidan O’Brien at his old stables in Owning. Despite having enjoyed a relatively successful career as a trainer to date, Doyle has yet to fulfil his dream which is to train a Grade 1 winner. “That’s the goal for every trainer and that’s what I’ve been working towards since I got my licence. I won’t be happy until I achieve that,” he says. Arguably Eoin’s most successful horse has been The Fonze, which won 16 races for him on the flat and over hurdles. The Fonze’s biggest win came in the Red Mills Grade 2 Chase in Gowran in 2010 when he beat the great War of Attrition. Other quality horses have included Mojito Royale, Coin Man, Ucan Bolt, No Full, which ran in the 2008 Grand National, and Satu, which won the Ladbrokes Grade 2 Hurdle in Killarney in 2012. The Rossmiester, Hawaii Five Nil and Raggletagglegypsy have also produced the goods for Eoin. “We had some great years – 2010, 2012 and 2013 immediately spring to mind,” the affable trainer continues. “The Fonze was a brilliant horse for us. We also trained Mountainous to win a Point to Point IRISH TRACTOR & AGRI
National hunt and flat trainer Eoin Doyle
Ashgrove Stables sponsoring Mooncoin GAA, l/r: Paddy Crowley, Liam Sutton, Alan Walsh, Eoin Doyle, John Crowley, Johnny Ryan, Eoin Henebery
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