Donnacha O’Brien kicks off training career at Dundalk

Ashley Iveson
January 9, 2020 2:30 pm

Recently retired champion jockey fields two runners at all-weather venue.

Donnacha O’Brien is looking forward to saddling his first runners at Dundalk on Friday.

The 21-year-old brought his relatively short but sweet riding career to an end in late November, having been crowned champion jockey in Ireland in each of the past two seasons.

He rode a total of 10 Group One winners, including four Classic victories aboard Saxon Warrior and Magna Grecia in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, Forever Together in the Oaks at Epsom and Latrobe in the Irish Derby at the Curragh.

O’Brien rode his first winner aboard Quartz for his father Aidan at Dundalk in September 2014 when he was just 16 – and will officially commence his training career by sending out two runners at the County Louth venue on Friday evening.

“We’re looking forward to getting started and it’s going to be interesting,” said O’Brien.

Both of O’Brien’s Friday runners were formerly trained by his father and carry the colours of his mother, Anne-Marie.

Mythologic bids top open his account at the ninth attempt in the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Maiden, while Flower Garland carries top weight in the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Apprentice Handicap. Both horses will be ridden by Gavin Ryan.

“Both horses look to have little chances. They hold no secrets and are fairly well exposed at this stage, but hopefully they’ll run well,” O’Brien added.

O’Brien is training out of the County Tipperary yard formerly occupied by multiple Group One-winning trainer David Wachman.

He said: “We have 30 horses in at the moment. It’s plenty at this stage, but it’s manageable.”