As a start to a new career goes it is difficult to imagine anyone matching former champion jockey Joseph O’Brien’s four-timer from seven runners on his first day as a fully fledged trainer.
With his runners spread over two meetings, O’Brien sent out two winners at Gowran Park and two at Listowel.
O’Brien has been overseeing a team of horses at his family’s Piltown yard, but until he completed all his training modules they were competing under the name of his father, Aidan.
To prove how seriously he is taking his new venture the fledgling trainer was sourcing new horses at the sales with his father overseeing things at Listowel.
“Straight away I got put in my place!” Aidan O’Brien said.
“It’s a massive day for us and it’s great to get a win both over jumps and on the Flat.
“I couldn’t believe when someone said to me that it was 23 years ago to the meeting (then at Tralee) that I had my first winner with Wandering Thoughts. I couldn’t believe that, it is some coincidence.
“Joseph loves it. He he loved riding but it was tough for him for a long time (with weight).
“No one will get more pleasure than me, but I’ll have to keep my eye on the ball now!”
