The next instalment in Donnacha O’Brien’s career is likely to come at Dundalk on Friday night, with the dual Irish champion jockey aiming to have his first runners as a trainer.
O’Brien, 21, announced his decision to retire from the saddle in November having won his second jockeys’ title earlier that month, with his focus instead switching to his training base in Longfield, County Tipperary, where David Wachman used to operate from.
Donnacha O’Brien – next phase on Friday evening (Pic – British Champion Series FB)
The youngest of Aidan O’Brien’s four children, O’Brien has followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Joseph, and both intended Dundalk runners, Flower Garland and Mythologic, are owned by Donnacha’s mother Annemarie.
O’Brien should be familiar with both horses, having ridden them when they were trained by his father.
Speaking on Monday, O’Brien, who rode four Classic winners and ten Gr1’s during his short but spectacular career in the saddle, said: “We’ll have to see if they get into the race but the plan is to run both of them.”
Should O’Brien have a runner on Friday it will be a fitting start for his training career, given his first winner as a jockey came as a 16-year-old at the track in September 2014 when he partnered Quartz for his father.
- www.racingpost.com
