By Dan Walsh
Rated as one of the world’s greatest horse trainers, Wexford-born Aidan O’Brien, from Donard, Poulpeasty, near Clonroche, today (Sunday) recorded his 4,000th success as a trainer when Henry Longfellow (10/11 fav) ridden by Ryan Moore won the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh.
Named in honour of O’Brien’s unrelated predecessor at Ballydoyle, the seven-furlongs contest is the premier juvenile race for colts in Ireland and, in 1996, provided Aidan O’Brien with his first Group 1 success, with Desert King.
Aidan won with his first runner Wandering Thoughts at Tralee on June 7th 1993, and having bagged five Jumps Trainers Championships between 1994-’98, subsequently accepted owner/breeder John Magnier’s request to train at Ballydoyle, Co Tipperary and has won every flat championship since 1998.
FACT FILE; Aidan Patrick O’Brien was born on October 16th 1969, one of six children of Denis O’Brien and his wife Stella (née Doyle). Denis was a farmer and small-scale horse trainer in the townland of Killegney, near Poulpeasty where Aidan grew up.
Aidan O’Brien attended Donard National School, located less than a mile from his parents’ home. He subsequently attended secondary school at Good Counsel College, New Ross.
Aidan O’Brien is married to Anne-Marie (née Crowley). Anne-Marie’s father, Joe Crowley trained horses at Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, where his tenure was interrupted in quick succession by his daughter Anne-Marie (Champion National Hunt Trainer during her brief time at the helm), his son-in-law Aidan O’Brien, who took over from his wife in 1993 but moved on to Ballydoyle, Co. Tipperary, in 1996.
Since 1996, Aidan has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables, near Rosegreen, Co. Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates.
He is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest horse trainers of all time.
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