Sandown 6 July 2024 Coral Eclipse Group 1 City Of Troy jockey and trainer Ryan Moore Aidan O Brien after win © Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O’Brien is considered one of the greatest racehorse trainers of all time. His unwavering dedication and laser-focused approach to training has propelled him not only to the top of Ireland’s Flat training ranks, but has also made him one of the most revered trainers globally.
While the human race tends to shy away from change, O’Brien embraces it and all it brings with it. He is a firm believer in changing his approach to each and every horse until he finds the perfect regime for that individual to thrive.
His perfectionist traits can make O’Brien appear intense and obsessive in character, often hiding behind dark glasses at the racecourse and tweaking seemingly ordinary processes such as saddling his horses in the parade ring at the races rather than in the saddling boxes.
O’Brien, does however, harbour a serene courage - where others may crumble under the pressure of producing big-race winners year upon year, he remains level-headed and modest in character, often blaming himself when horses underperform.
Those close to O’Brien, including his former assistant and jockey, Christy Roche, have stated in the past that his steadfast self-belief, intelligence and perfectionism are what make him so successful. You can see Aidan O’Brien’s statistics for the past 20 years here, plus entries, form and quotes.
Aidan O’Brien is from County Wexford. Inspired by his father and trainer Denis O’Brien, he set out on his career in racing at PJ Finn’s yard at the Curragh, before taking up a post as assistant trainer to Jim Bolger, where he rode work on Classic winners Jet Ski Lady and St Jovite.
He also rode as an amateur rider and worked as assistant to his father-in-law Joe Crowley and his wife Anne Marie, before taking over the training licence in his own name in 1993.
O’Brien’s journey as a trainer began in the national hunt world in which he experienced great success, landing the Irish National Hunt trainers’ championship from 1993 - 1998.
O’Brien’s talent didn’t go unnoticed and in 1996 he was identified by John Magnier as a trainer who possessed the capabilities to take over from Vincent O’Brien and train at racing’s premier thoroughbred training facility, Ballydoyle. An offer he couldn’t refuse, O’Brien has since proved that records can be continually broken when a high-class racehorse trainer is given the opportunity to train high-class racehorses.
Ballydoyle is the racing arm of Coolmore - the world’s largest breeding operation of thoroughbreds. The stud produces the many champions and Classic winners under the care of Aidan O’Brien. Ballydoyle is based at Ferthard, County Tipperary in a magnificent setting at the foot of Slievenamon mountain.
Epsom 1 June 2024 Betfred Derby Group 1 Trainer Aidan O Brien celebrates after City Of Troy and Ryan Moore gave him his 10th Epsom Derby with L R MV M© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan is married to Anne-Marie Crowley and they have four children; Joseph, Sarah, Ana and Donnacha. All four of them have ridden as jockeys. Joseph and Donnacha are now successful trainers in their own right. Anne-Marie plays an integral part in the operation at Ballydoyle.
Superstar hurdler Istabraq, fell into the hands of Aidan O’Brien when the horse’s former trainer John Durkan was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Durkan died in January 1998 and Istabraq remained with O’Brien. The stable’s ace went on to win the Champion Hurdle three times in 1998, 1999 and 2000 for owner JP McManus.
The Derby at Epsom remains the number one target for Aidan O’ Brien, who has won England’s most valuable Classic a record-breaking 10 times in total:
He has won the Group 1 Irish Derby 16 times throughout his career:
O’Brien has landed an astounding 51 Irish Classics and 44 British Classics.
He is the winning-most trainer at Royal Ascot with 91 wins and he has won the leading trainer title at the Royal meeting 13 times. His first Royal Ascot winner was Harbour Master in 1997. In 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, his top stayer, Yeats, won the Ascot Gold Cup and in 2017, O’Brien won a record 7 races at Royal Ascot.
O’Brien has won the Irish Flat trainers’ championship for the past 17 years and the British Flat trainers’ Championship in 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2016 and 2017.
In 2017, a new world record was set by Aidan O'Brien who landed a staggering 28 Group or Grade 1 races in a calendar year. This outshone the previous record set by the US-based trainer Bobby Frankel in 2003.
O’Brien has won the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in France in 2007 with Dylan Thomas and the admirable mare, Found, in 2016.
While we cannot pinpoint Aidan O’Brien’s net worth, his prize money earnings for the last five years are as follows:
This is a total of €26,800,344 and the trainer will take around 10% of the earnings.
Aidan O’Brien’s prize money total since 1996 can be viewed here
Aidan O’Brien’s current highest-rated horse is City Of Troy, who carries an official rating of 124.
The son of Justify was scintillating as a two-year-old, readily winning the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket before seeing off his rivals in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes in stunning fashion.
Epsom 1 June 2024 Betfred Derby Group 1 City Of Troy and Ryan Moore winning for owners Coolmore and giving trainer Aidan O Brien his 10th Epsom Derby © Photo Healy Racing
Sent off 4/6 favourite for the English 2000 Guineas the following season, City of Troy was sorely disappointing and many passed him off as a ‘hype horse’ who had not trained on from two to three years old.
Aidan O’Brien insisted he is still one of the best he has ever trained and maintained unshakable belief in the horse.
For the punters who listened to O’Brien and kept the faith in City Of Troy, their loyalty was rewarded as he won the 2024 Epsom Derby by two and three quarter lengths.
The Coral Eclipse came next at Sandown and once again he proved his trainer right to win another top-flight contest, albeit taking the prize in a more workmanlike fashion. City Of Troy holds entries in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York, the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.
Aidan O’Brien’s highest-ever rated horse was Hawk Wing who reached an official rating of 137. Despite never winning the English 2000 Guineas or the Derby at Epsom, the son of Woodman won Group 1 races aged 2,3 and 4, including the Lockinge at Newbury by 11 lengths in horrendous weather conditions.
If you want to know more about Aidan O’Brien and to get a glimpse behind the scenes at Ireland's most prestigious training and breeding establishments, Emma Nagle has visited Ballydoyle and Coolmore. Watch our Aidan O’Brien stable tours here
