Charles O` Brien

Principal Jockey: Fran Berry

CharlesOBrienNotable Wins:

  • Ridgewood Pearl Stakes (Grecian Dancer 2008)
  • Jebel Hatta Nayef (Lord Admiral 2008)
  • Al Rashidiya Stakes (Lord Admiral 2008)
  • Prix Miss Satamixa (Grecian Dancer 2008)
  • Knockaire Stakes  (Lord Admiral 2007)
  • Ballycorus Stakes (Lord Admiral 2007)
  • Glencairn Stakes (Lord Admiral 2005)
  • Vintage Crop Stakes (Jade Quest 2004)
  • Silver Stakes (Smuggler’s Song 2002, Dr Johnson 1997)
  • Irish Breeders Foal Levy Stakes (Vettriano 2002)
  • Concorde Stakes (Montecastillo 2001)
  • Mooresbridge Stakes (Campo Catino 1999)
  • Eyrefield Stakes (Wild Heaven 1998)
  • Minstrel Stakes (Burden Of Proof 1998)
  • International Stakes (Burden Of Proof 1998)
  • Amethyst Stakes (Burden Of Proof 1998 + 1997)
  • Testimonial Stakes (Burden Of Proof 1997 + 1995)
  • Ballycullen Stakes (Dr Johnson 1997)
  • Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (Ashley Park 1997)
  • Greenlands Stakes (Burden Of Proof 1997)
  • Ballyroan Stakes (Golden Orb 1995)
  • Beresford Stakes (Burden Of Proof 1994)

Son of the legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien, Charles O’Brien was always to be expected to follow in the footsteps of his father and having served his apprenticeship with Vincent, he took out his own license in 1993. With the support of a number of high-profile owners, O’Brien made an immediate impact, saddling a total of 10 winners and going close to big-race success with Portrait Gallery failing by just a short-head in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes under Lester Piggott.

In his second season as a trainer, O’Brien came across the horse that would become his first stable star, Burden Of Proof. Owned by Vincent O’Brien, the son of Fairy King gave Charles his first win at Group level when winning the Group 3 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh in October 1994 under Christy Roche. Having finished fourth in the Irish 2000 Guineas the following season, he would go on to prove a reliable performer at Group and listed level over the next number of seasons, winning races such as the Greenlands Stakes, the Testimonial Stakes (twice), the Amethyst Stakes (twice), the International Stakes and the Minstrel Stakes. O’Brien came across another useful performer in 1995, saddling Golden Orb to win all four of his starts that season culminating in an impressive win in the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.

In late-1996, O’Brien introduced a two-year-old son of Woodman named Dr Johnson in a maiden at Leopardstown and while it took him four starts to get off the mark, eventually doing so the following May back at the same track, he didn’t improving after that. Having won the listed Silver Stakes at the Curragh and a strong conditions event back at Leopardstown in the month that followed, he was stepped right up in class to contest the Irish Derby and he almost pulled off a major victory. Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, the Vincent O’Brien-trained colt just found Desert King a length too good, with the winner being trained by the man who had taken over the Ballydoyle training complex from Vincent, Aidan O’Brien. He went on to win the listed Ballycullen Stakes back at Leopardstown the following August and that would prove to be the last win of his career. O’Brien unearthed another smart son of Woodman in 1998 in the shape of Campo Catino, who won twice at Leopardstown before finishing fourth to Dream Well in the Irish Derby and winning the listed Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh the following season.

Unquestionably the star performer in O’Brien’s stable in 2001 was Montecastillo, who ran with great credit in a multitude of listed races and valuable handicaps before winning the Group 3 Concorde Stakes at Tipperary on his final start of the season. His most valuable win in 2002 came with the win of Vettriano in the Irish Breeders Foal Levy Stakes, with an honourable mention for the win of Smuggler’s Song in the listed Silver Stakes at the Curragh.

In more recent seasons, Lord Admiral has unquestionably been the flag bearer for the Charles O’Brien yard. A son of El Prado, he won a juvenile maiden at Naas on his second start and while he only gained one win (in the listed Glencairn Stakes) in the next three seasons, he proved remarkably consistent in listed and Group company. He regained the winning habit in 2007 in the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown and the year that followed would prove to be the most lucrative of his career. Wins in the Knockaire Stakes, as well as in the Al Rashidiya Stakes and the Jebel Hatta Nayef during the Carnival at Nad Al Sheba were gained in between a further multitude of placings in Group and listed events. At the time of writing, this eight-year-old has won over €500,000 in prize money for his owner Vincent O’Brien and may not be finished yet.

Grecian Dancer also deserves a mention as one of O’Brien’s better performers of recent seasons, having improved from a 64-rated handicapper in 2006 to winning the Group 3 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes at the Curragh by a stunning five lengths margin in 2008.

With O’Brien having made a solid start to the 2009 season, it is probably only a matter of time before he unveils his latest star performer and he is sure to remain a prominent member of the Irish training ranks for many years to come.

Updated May 2009.