Born in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland, Caoilin Quinn started pony racing, under the auspices of the Midlands Horse and Pony Racing Association (MHPRA), while still at primary school. During secondary school, he rode out for local trainer Brian Hamilton at weekends and during holidays and, on leaving school, crossed the Irish Sea to join Warren Greatrex at Uplands Stables in Upper Lambourn, Berkshire.
Quinn won on the first of just two rides as an amateur jockey, Sarim, trained by Greatrex, in a mile-and-a-half handicap on the Flat at Kempton on November 5, 2019. He subsequently turned conditional and duly won on his first ride as a professional, too, Bill Baxter, also trained by Greatrex, in a National Hunt Flat race at Fakenham on January 4, 2021.
On February 15, 2022, as a 3lb claimer, Quinn partnered Hit The Rocks, trained by Gary Moore, to victory in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Lingfield. He joined Moore, at Cisswood Stables in Lower Beeding, West Sussex, as conditional jockey the following August and it has been for his current boss, or bosses – Gary Moore having been joined on the trainers’ licence by youngest son Josh on May 1, 2024 – that he has recorded all his major successes, under both codes.
Quinn recorded the biggest win of his career, at that point, on Botox Has in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby on November 4, 2023, but made headlines again when riding a high-profile double on Salver in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle and Nassalam in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow over Christmas. He finished the 2023/24 season with 28 winners, increased his tally to 29 winners in 2024/25, riding out his claim – courtesy of another double, on Jolyjump and Icare Grandchamp at Southwell on November 15, 2024 – in the process and, again, to 41 winners in 2025/26. Indeed, he rounded off his most successful season yet by winning both the Sussex National at Plumpton and the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, on the final day, on Havaila, trained by Gary and Josh Moore.
