Made In Design (nearside) was a winner for Paul Hickey, at Dundalk© Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O’Brien's quest to equal and break Michael Kinane's record for the amount of winners ridden in a flat season in Ireland continues at Navan today.
He's on Deep Speed in the 5.35, the finale, the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden.
Paul Hickey, his trainer, who has a couple of winners on the board already, comes from a family steeped in racing and breeding with his father, Michael standing Old Vic amongst under top sires at Sunnyhill Stud and breeding such stars as Kicking King, Hedgehunter and Don't Push It, while his grandfather Michael senior was a famous stallion master and prominent figure in Irish jump racing and breeding circles for many years, and owner of Garryrichard Stud, Foulksmills, in Wexford.
Hickey spent three years with Aidan O’Brien of which he said: "That was wonderful, I learnt so much. Aidan is really approachable and you could ask him anything. He was very helpful to me and he had known my grandfather, both Wexford men of course."
On Deep Speed he commented: "He got stuck in the ground we think at Listowel, it was quite testing down there.
"He's in good form and we're hoping for a good run.
"He ran well at the Curragh the previous day and he'd been very green at Cork but that was his first run and he performed well.
"We have Joseph booked and there's no one better really.
"It would be nice if he could break the record on our lad though I'd suppose ideally he'd prefer if he could do it on one of his father's ones.
"Either way we're happy to be going there with our chance."
