Aidan on top of the world BY PEGASUS
AIDAN O’BRIEN continues to re-write the racing record books and clinched arguably his greatest achievement at Doncaster on Saturday when he won the final British Group 1 of the Year, the Racing Post Trophy, to establish a world record 26 top grade flat races in a year.
Away back in 2001 a young O’ Brien set the world record with 23 Group 1 wins, but this was eclipsed by American Bobby Frankel with 25 in 2003.
Aidan has since come close to getting the title back a couple of times, and he achieved it when Ryan Moore drove Saxon Warrior (13/8f) back up after being headed to deny Roaring Lion (8/1) and Oisín Murphy by a neck. The Pentagon (10/1) was third for Ballydoyle under Seamie Heffernan.
Worldwide tributes have been paid to the quiet-spoken, self-effacing racing genius from Poulpeasty who has been constantly setting records since he first took out a licence in 1993 and took over in succession to the late Vincent O’Brien at Ballydoyle in 1996.
I have outlined lots of Aidan’s record-breaking feats leading up to this in recent weeks. Perhaps it is enough to say now that he is quite simply the best in the world in a highly-competitive and often cutthroat business, while maintaining a quiet dignity and decorum in victory and defeat.
What role models he and his family are, and he deserves the respect and admiration of everyone, especially here in his native county.
Aidan had runners down for two Group 1s in France on Sunday but they were called off because of a protest by local trainers and owners. He will have a big team in action at the Breeders Cup in America next weekend.