O'Brien Extracts Biggest Win To Date

Limerick-based trainer Richard O'Brien will be back in his dentistry practice later this week glowing in satisfaction after Dianthus (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}) provided him with the biggest win of his nascent training career. The 3-year-old filly claimed some notable scalps in the €50,000 Madrid H. on the opening day of the Irish flat season at Naas last Sunday, including the runner up London Icon (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) who holds an entry in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas. O'Brien is only in his second full season with a trainers license and while he has no plans just yet to quit the day job, he harbours great ambitions to increase the size of his string.

“We have 17 or 18 riding out at the moment but its hard to make a proper impact with that number of horses,” O'Brien told the TDN on Monday. “I'd love to build it up into a proper enterprise but it will take time and hopefully the filly winning on Sunday will help move it along a bit. I still work as a dentist on Thursdays and Saturdays and believe it or not it gives me a chance to step away from the stress of training. You'd think it would be the other way around.”

While Dianthus picked a nice race to shed her maiden tag, it certainly hasn't all been plain sailing with the filly. After a nice introduction in a maiden at Leopardstown last year won by September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), she took a serious disliking to the Polytrack surface at Dundalk on her next start when pulled up by jockey Gary Halpin two furlongs from home.

“I don't really know what happened that day, she just wouldn't let herself down on the surface and thankfully Gary did the sensible thing and pulled her up. He had ridden her work and knew she had plenty of ability so he knew something was amiss.”

Dianthus showed her true colours next time out when second at Gowran at odds of 100-1 and while disappointed not to win that day O'Brien believes defeat may have been a blessing. “Had she won that day she may not have been as well treated in the weights on Sunday so perhaps it was for the best,” he said. “We weren't surprised with her performance at Naas. We were always keen on her and the only problem now for me is that she is very saleable and I might not have her for much longer.”

Sunday's win will see Dianthus elevated to a handicap mark of 86 and should she remain with O'Brien, he feels another handicap could be within her capability before she begins the hunt for black-type.

“I suppose she could run in a Guineas Trial, I think she is fairly adaptable regarding the ground. She handled soft ground well on Sunday, I think she will be fine on good ground but may need to go a bit further on nice ground.”

It was always the plan for O'Brien to branch into training. He made good use of his time working as a dentist in Edinburgh by shadowing trainer David O'Meara for as much time as work would allow and it is clear that he picked up plenty from his time with the Yorkshire-based trainer. In his first full season, O'Brien trained 13 winners from just 12 individual runners. He showcased his talent of rejuvenating second or even third hand horses by coaxing four wins from Tom Dooley (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and three wins from Alan's Pride (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) while Beach Bar (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), another inherited from a different trainer, has ensured 2018 got off to a solid start by adding to the two wins he contributed to the tally last year when scoring at Dundalk last month.

Victory for Dianthus last Sunday proved that while O'Brien is adept at adding a new lease of life to seemingly exposed horses he is also equally at home in getting young horses to fulfil their potential and he is hoping her win will stimulate an increase in numbers at his Ballingarry based facility.

“Winning with the older horses was great to get us noticed, but I didn't want to get pigeonholed as a one dimensional trainer,” he noted. “To me it doesn't matter if they are a 2-year-old or a 9-year-old, its all about keeping them right and healthy. We've found a routine that seems to allow the ones with potential fulfil their ability and we tend not to over complicate things.”

Everyone is aware that being a racehorse trainer in Ireland is not for the faint of heart and that so many who are operating at the mid to lower levels are finding it increasingly difficult to make the game pay. O'Brien has never been deterred and puts a lot of pressure on himself to be a success.

“Training horses can eat you alive,” he said. “Sunday's win was fantastic but soon after I began thinking, if she is sold where is my next winner going to come from?”

O'Brien then pointed out that he quite fancies his Oneoveryou (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) at Dundalk on Wednesday. “She's a grand filly, very consistent and hopefully she will be involved.”

Mind you if Oneoveryou doesn't win and you have a dental appointment with O'Brien on Thursday you may want to consider rescheduling.