Donnacha O'Brien was crowned Irish champion Flat jockey for the second time on the final day of the season at Naas on Nov. 3. The defending champion closed the season with 111 wins, after booting home Nobel Prize (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to win over the Colin Keane-piloted Chiricahua (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden on the final day. Keane was champion Irish Flat jockey in 2017. O'Brien's title race victory means he matches the feat of his older brother Joseph, who won back-to-back championships in in 2012 and 2013.
Donnacha O'Brien said, “It's a relief to win it and to have it over and done. It's head-frying [going for the jockeys' championship], and I don't know how lads like AP [McCoy] and Pat [Smullen] kept going for so many years. Colin [Keane] is someone I have the utmost respect for, and to ride over 100 winners in a season not riding for dad [Aidan O'Brien] or Joseph is incredible. It's a true test of how good he is.
“I have been getting unbelievable support from the Magnier, Smith and Tabor families–and I owe everything to them and dad. To be able to ride so many good horses is a real privilege. I'm going on holidays tomorrow morning, so I'm looking forward to that. Everyone seems to want me to retire, but we'll think about that on another day.”
The race for the Irish champion apprentice went right to the wire, with Andrew Slattery's 43 wins tied at the end of the card by Oisin Orr who began the day on 41 victories. Orr rode Tide of Time (GB) (Choisir {Aus}) and the Dermot Weld-trained Maria Christina (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) to wins on the day and a share of the apprentices' title. Orr was also named champion apprentice in 2017.
Orr said, “It was going to be a great season no matter what and it's the most winners I've had in a year. It was nice to get that one in the last race.”
“I was delighted that they both tied for it,” said Weld. “Andy has ridden plenty of big winners for me, but I really wanted Oisin to tie with him. The standard of young riders we have in Ireland at the moment is superb.”
Joseph and Donnacha's father Aidan O'Brien won Ireland's champion Flat trainer for a remarkable 22nd time, while Mrs. Sue Magnier is Ireland's champion owner again.
“Each of our winners is a terrific ambassador for Irish racing and I wish to congratulate the champions we have crowned today,” said Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh. “I wish to give special mention to the jockeys that have served up a thrilling conclusion to the season with the championship going down to the final days of the season and the apprentice championship going down to the very last race.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
