Flying start for O’Brien as he bags four-timer

JOSEPH O’BRIEN began his new job in sensational style with four winners on his first day as a trainer. The 23-year-old dual Derbywinning jockey was successful with his first runner when 6-4 chance Justice Frederick landed the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden Stakes at Gowran Park with O’Brien’s 17-year-old brother Donnacha in the saddle. Joseph, who sent out seven runners on the day, also triumphed with 7-1 shot Zig Zag, again ridden by Donnacha, in the Gowran Park Golf Club Handicap. Over at Listowel’s jumps meeting he landed the Maiden Hurdle with 4-9 favourite Mai Fitzs Jack, ridden by Brian O’Connell, and the Bumper with 11-8 favourite Oathkeeper, ridden by his sister Sarah, an amateur rider. Joseph — who chose to attend the Goffs bloodstock sales rather than either track — switched to training after losing the battle to keep his near-six-foot body down to a Flat jockey’s weight. To add to the day-one family affair, Zig Zag carried the colours of his mother, Anne Marie, while Justice Frederick beat Leo Minor, who represented his champion trainer father Aidan. Aidan said: ‘Joseph loves training. He loved riding but it was tough for him for a long time — doing nine stone every morning was very hard. He’s a big man now, well over 11 stone and he doesn’t look heavy. No one will get more pleasure than me, but I’ll have to keep my eye on the ball now.’ Joseph has 80 around horses in a family stable in County Kilkenny, which he has overseen for more than a year although the runners have been in his father’s name. They included JP McManus-owned Ivanovich Gorbatov, winner of the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Justice Frederick will run for Joseph in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot next week.