Ana O'Brien rides her first winner Ana O'Brien, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Annmarie and Aidan, a 5th year student in secondary school, rode her first winner when the family's Fairylike took the Irish Stablestaff Association Awards 23rd February Apprentice Handicap at Dundalk. A lot of people appeared at the number one spot to catch a glimpse of this special winner for the Ballydoyle-based clan, and indeed it was a richly deserved victory as it was hard-fought for out on the track. Luke Dempsey (going for a double after Toberton's win in the first) looked like he might have pinched it from the front on the clear leader, Benbecula. However the successful Oratorio mare seemed to revel in passing horses up the straight under her young pilot and the pair got there in the closing stages to prevail by half a length. Aidan O'Brien said: "They went very fast. I'm delighted, that filly is trying to win a race for a long time. "It's a great facility here and it's always very special when one of your own wins their first race. "Ana will get more opportunities and she'll keep going at this – education permitting." (MG & EM)
