O’Brien reflects on another big year for Ballydoyle Aidan O’Brien has reflected on another brilliant season for Ballydoyle as he again secured the British trainers’ title to add to his domestic dominance. The Master of Ballydoyle has been atop the Irish table every year since 1999 and sits on 25 Group 1 successes this season heading into the Breeders’ Cup this weekend. O’Brien paid tribute to his team in Ballydoyle and the Coolmore partners behind the elite string in his care, in a conversation with journalist Dave Keena. A privileged small part of the team “Obviously we’ve been very lucky. We work for, and with, unbelievable people and have a great supply of horses. “We’re in Ballydoyle a long time now. From the time we started training and owning we’ve been very lucky. “Everyone works very hard and we’re a small part of that team and feel very privileged to be working with so many unbelievable people and for so many unbelievable people. “When we have great days we really appreciate them and you go to bed a little bit easier that night and think about what you have done but when you go to sleep that night the day is over and it’s the next day then after that. “Obviously you do relax straight after a big race and you do relax into the evening and the night but the next day you wake up and it’s a new day and yesterday is gone and you’re looking forward to tomorrow. “It’s what we love and do. It’s our pastime as well as our job but it is sport at the end of the day. “For us it’s a privilege to be working for such special people and with such special people. We feel very privileged to be the small part that we are. The Irish affinity for horses “Ireland is an unbelievable place for horse people. Irish people have a unique sense with animals, especially horses. “Horses emotionally are very sensitive to human beings and they do bond very well. “We have a lot of people from all over the world working here that are very serious people as well. “I suppose it’s a culture in Ireland to be close to the land and close to horses. I don’t think any family is too far removed from having a horse at home for work. “Even people that were reared in cities were used to horses years back. Horses did a lot of work in towns, drawing trams. “I think it’s really in Irish people’s blood, horses and thoroughbreds. “For the size of the country and the amount of people that are here we really punch very high all over the world. “When we came to Ballydoyle originally our reason for coming here was for John and Sue (Magnier). “We knew how passionate John and Sue were and what they thought, their knowledge and their breeds, and the way that everything was going to develop. “Obviously before we came to Ballydoyle it was very successful with Dr (Vincent) O’Brien and their breeding industry and program had been incredible. Every year it has gotten stronger. “John and Sue were then joined by Michael and Doreen (Tabor) and Gay and Derrick (Smith). Then Georg and Emily (von Opel) and Peter and Stephanie (Brant) and all the other people that are involved. “So many serious people that we’ve trained so many big winners for since the time we came into Ballydoyle. We’ve been so lucky to train for so many incredible people.” The lifelong appeal of racing O’Brien has been vocal about the appeal of horse-racing and has said it brings a lot to people’s lives. “Racing has an incredible feel good factor for people that are watching it, even if you’re not involved in it from day to day. “Everyone develops an opinion and there are so many characters and so many strands to it with people doing different jobs, that people are connected to. “It’s a great interest for people and it will last from the time you are a very small child until you are a very good age. “When you’re not able to work or to move you can still turn on the telly and watch the racing and listen to what is going on and read the papers. “I think it’s one of those sports that can get you through life and really help you through the day, no matter you do.” A trip to the Breeders’ Cup is a highlight at the end of the season for O’Brien. Remarkably for an Irish-based handler he is the joint winning-most trainer at the meeting with Wayne Lukas. “Obviously we’ve been going to the Breeders’ Cup for a long time and we’ve ran a lot of horses. “It’s very competitive, very hard to win races there, but it’s where anyone wants to be at that time of year. It’s a brilliant atmosphere, great build-up, and very prestigious racing. “Usually the horses are all in the right categories at that time of year and you have older horses meeting three-year-olds. “It’s a different way of racing, it’s fast and very competitive. There’s not an inch given anywhere and that’s competitive thoroughbred racing at it’s best. “The weather is usually nice, the ground is usually fast and the prize-money is very big.”
