After a short, yet successful stint as a jockey — notably riding Camelot to glory in the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and the Irish Derby for his father Aidan in 2012 — Joseph O’Brien ventured into the realm of training and has already enjoyed immense success at just 31, with his runners often favoured with those who bet on horse racing.
In less than a decade as a handler, O’Brien has already achieved immense success and has landed major triumphs across the world — including Classic victories in the Irish Derby and St. Leger, while also winning the Melbourne Cup twice and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf in Australia and the United States, respectively.
The 31-year-old’s success is not limited to the flat racing circuit either. He prides himself in being a dual trainer, and has secured victories at the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National meeting at Aintree, as well as multiple Grade 1s — mostly notably with stable star Fakir D’oudairies.
While reaching the heights of his father will be a challenge, O’Brien looks destined to leave a legacy in the sport and carry on the success that is synonymous with his name.
As the 2024 flat season draws to a close in the coming weeks, let’s take a look back at some of his best wins this year.
Gregarina — Athasi Stakes
Joining O’Brien’s Owning Hill stables in County Kildare from French trainer Fabrice Chappet with a less-than-modest record in April, Gregarina was thrown straight into Group 3 company in the Coolmore Stud Little Big Bear EBF Athasi Stakes in May.
Many punters and pundits alike were under the impression that she might be out of her depth in such a contest on her maiden start for her new yard, but she caused a major upset when beating You Send Me by a head to win the race from odds of 16/1.
Gregarina has stepped up to Group 2s on her last two starts but has largely been outclassed by her rivals — finishing last in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Ascot before coming home fourth of six runners in the Minstrel Stakes back at the Curragh last time out.
Al Riffa — Grosser Preis von Berlin
After impressively chasing home City Of Troy in the Sandown Eclipse, ultimately finishing just one length behind the Derby winner from 11/1 odds, Al Riffa was sent to Germany for a crack at the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin.
It was the four-year-old’s first attempt at covering one mile and four furlongs, but the additional distance wasn’t expected to be a concern for Al Riffa going how strongly he finished in the Eclipse, and he romped to a five-length victory in Berlin.
The prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe looks likely to be on the agenda for the four-year-old at Longchamp in October, and that would be another one of the sport’s biggest races ticked off the last for O’Brien should his horse prevail.
Mojave River — Arqana Series des Pouliches
A potentially exciting filly for O’Brien, Mojave River made her debut in a valuable contest for unraced two-year-olds at Deauville in France last month and secured the £69,595 winning prize purse in emphatic fashion.
The juvenile made practically all the running in the seven-furlong race and was shaken up two furlongs out by Maxime Guyon before keeping on well and being pushed out to a two-length victory over Bogota.
Apples And Bananas — Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage
Apples And Bananas is another O’Brien-trained two-year-old worth adding to your tracker, as the Wooton Bassett colt scored in Listed company in the Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage on his third start at Deauville.
After winning a Maiden at Killarney on his second attempt in July, he went to France for a test up in grade, and he proved himself when driven home, always doing enough to hold off the chasing Rosa Salvaje.
Apples And Bananas has some big race entries potentially coming up before the end of the season, so it will be interesting to see if he has progressed further at home.
