Joseph O'Brien will certainly remember his first day as a licensed trainer. Sending out runners under his own name for the first time on Monday, O'Brien kicked off his new career in spectacular fashion training four winners spread across meetings at Listowel and Gowran Park. Two of the winners came on the flat and two in national hunt races, with his brother Donnacha steering the flat winners Justice Frederick (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and Zig Zag (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), while his sister Sarah also kept it in the family guiding home Oathkeeper (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) to a wide margin success at Listowel. The quartet of winners was completed by Mai Fitz Jack (Ire) (Acambaro {Ger}), who landed a maiden hurdle at Listowel under Brian O'Connell. Unfortunately the rookie trainer was not present at either meeting, as he was busy inspecting horses at Goffs' Land Rover Sale which begins on Tuesday. However, he did have an able deputy present at Listowel, his father Aidan, who was on hand to oversee saddling duties.
“Straight away I got put in my place,” quipped Aidan. “It's a massive day for us and it's great to get a win both over jumps and on the flat.”
In an ironic coincidence, it was discovered that 23-year-old Joseph chose the same day to train his first winner that his father did 23 years ago.
“I couldn't believe when someone said to me that it was 23 years ago to the meeting [then at Tralee] that I had my first winner with Wandering Thoughts–I couldn't believe that, it is some coincidence,” said Aidan. “Joseph loves training–he loved riding, but it was tough for him doing 9st every morning which was very hard. He's a big man now, he's well over 11st and he doesn't look heavy. No one will get more pleasure than me, but I'll have to keep my eye on the ball now.”
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