
Joseph O’Brien was all of a month old when his father Aidan trained his first winner. Now aged 23, Joseph recently received his own training licence and has got his new career off to a spectacular start.
He trained four winners on his first afternoon as a trainer. The former Group 1 winning jockey wasn’t even in attendance at either Gowran Park or Listowel to lead his horses to the winners’ enclosure. He was busy at the sales buying yet more future winners.
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
On Monday Joseph O’Brien sent seven horses out to race on his first day as a trainer. Four of them won.
The first was Justice Frederick at 6/4, ridden by Joseph’s younger brother Donnacha. Trainer and jockey beat their father’s horse into second place!
IT’S IN THE BLOOD
Later in the day at Gowran Park, Donnacha rode another winner, Zig Zag at odds of 7/1, this time in the colours of Aidan’s wife, Anne-Marie.
Over at Listowel O’Brien trained two winners, Mai Fitzs Jack at 4/9 and Oathkeeper at odds of 11/8. That winner was ridden by Joseph’s sister, Sarah.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that Aidan’s children are so gifted in and out of the saddle. Both their father and mother were themselves children born to racehorse trainers.