Morris proud to own O'Brien's first winner Justice Frederick, Joseph O'Brien's first winner as a trainer, was a special and appropriate one as the horse is owned and bred by his neighbour Max Morris. Dual Irish champion jockey O'Brien is the son of multiple Irish champion trainer Aidan and had a dream start to his new career with four winners at two meetings. Justice Frederick was that landmark opening winner from his first runner when reaping the benefit of a promising debut third at Tipperary 11 days earlier to score in good style from Leo Minor, trained by his father. The two-year-old son of Lawman is a possible for the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday week and he holds an entry in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on August 7. Justice Frederick is out of the mare Sheer Spirit and was foaled at Morris' Iverk House Stud, close to the stables where the young O'Brien is based and his parents before him. Morris and his wife, Lyn, run the stud in the village of Owning, Piltown, in County Kilkenny. They bred Oath and the winner of the Epsom Derby in 1999 is a half-brother to Sheer Spirit, the dam of Justice Frederick. "It was very special," Morris told Press Association Sport. "We live right beside them in the village of Owning. The horse was foaled and bred and reared in Owning and didn't have far to go to his neighbour, Joseph. "The horse has been in Joseph's care since he left our yard as a yearling. "We've got a couple of more horses with Joseph. They are two three-year-olds - a colt called Reckless Gold and a filly called Ruby Gates. "We have been living beside the hill for a long time and there is a very good gallop. "We knew Aidan and Annemarie (O'Brien's wife) very well before they went to Ballydoyle. That's how the whole thing came about. "Yesterday was a very proud day for Owning and we are proud as neighbours to give Joseph his first winner. "I got permission from my uncle to name the horse after him because he was the president of the High Court in Ireland. "He gave me permission and I told him the horse was going to be with Joseph and my uncle said we could name the horse after him provided he's good. That was a lot of pressure on poor Joseph! "My wife and I are on holiday and when we get home we want to go and talk to Joseph. We want to see whether we go to Ascot, or hold on as he's had two quick races. "He's entered in the Phoenix (Curragh, August 7) and there is no reason why he shouldn't run well in that. "Joseph might like to have an Ascot runner, so we'll see. "I've not heard anything so I presume the horse has come out of it very well. It's great for Joseph."
