Vincent O’Brien

O’Brien died on June 1, 2009, but his legacy will live on forevermore. Never mind his meticulous preparation of six Derby winners between 1962 and 1982; he created the superb training facilities at Ballydoyle in the early 1950s (it was originally an ordinary working farm) and played a pivotal role in the development of nearby Coolmore Stud.

Today, his successor at Ballydoyle, Aidan O’Brien, who is no relation, continues to send out countless big winners, mostly with horses bred at Coolmore, which thrived courtesy of bloodlines selected by Vincent. It is the envy of breeding operations all over the world.

Many top trainers these days might have 200 or more horses at their yards, but O’Brien rarely had more than 60 because, in his words, any more would have meant he could not give them all his attention. It did not stop him from being champion Flat trainer in his native Ireland on 13 occasions, and in Britain twice (in 1966 and 1977).

His eye for detail, knowledge of pedigrees, intuition and careful planning helped his horses realise their full potential, none more so than Nijinsky, who achieved the Triple Crown in 1970 thanks in no small part to O’Brien gently ironing out flaws in his temperament. Fifty-one years later, Nijinsky remains the last horse to have won the 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger.

Larkspur (1962), Sir Ivor (1968), Roberto (1972), The Minstrel (1977) and Golden Fleece (1982) also won the Derby for O’Brien. He was so focused on winning the iconic Epsom race that he created his own version of Tattenham Corner at Ballydole.

He enjoyed 16 Classic winners in Britain, while in his native Ireland he would scoop 27 more – including the Irish Derby six times. He also won 25 races at Royal Ascot, including six from just seven runners in 1975.

O’Brien suggested Sir Ivor and Nijinsky were the best he trained; the latter being among the early offspring of Canadian champion Northern Dancer. O’Brien was swift to recognise Northern Dancer’s potential as a stallion, with several of his offspring, such as Sadler’s Wells, changing the equine landscape in Ireland and Britain.

Sadler’s Wells enjoyed a successful career on the track under O’Brien’s guidance before going on to himself become a phenomenal stallion. His sons included Galileo, the 1991 Derby winner who went on to be a record-breaker for Coolmore in the breeding sheds. And Galileo’s numerous brilliant offspring included none other than Frankel, perhaps the greatest thoroughbred there has been.

When O’Brien passed away, at home aged 92, a statement from his daughter, Sue Magnier, and her husband John and their family read: “Dad’s racing career speaks for itself and needs no elaboration. There was nobody like him. Coolmore Stud and Ballydoyle are the results of his vision and testament to his success.”

O’Brien was born, in Churchtown, County Cork. His father, Dan, trained a few horses under permit and enjoyed trading them. Even as an infant, Vincent was able to recite their pedigrees. After his father’s sudden death, in 1943, he took charge and instantly made his mark. The following year, he pulled off the Irish Autumn Double via Good Days (Cesarewitch) and Drybob (dead-heated in the Cambridgeshire). O’Brien enjoyed a flutter in his early days and his £2 each-way double yielded a return of £1,200.

It was Cottage Rake who put him on the map but his focus was soon entirely on the Flat, as there was greater prize-money to be won and he could better utilise his knowledge of pedigrees and breeding in that sphere.

He had already enjoyed great success when, in 1973, he bought a majority share in the stud farm at Coolmore. Robert Sangster and his subsequent son-in-law, John Magnier, who owned another stud, joined him in the venture. The farms were merged and, together, the trio began buying yearlings with the aim of turning them into champions on and off the racecourse.