Charles O’Brien has led the tributes to his uncle Phonsie O’Brien who has died at the age of 86.
Phonsie was the seventh and youngest son of Dan O’Brien and the last living brother of the legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien, who died in 2009.
A talented jockey who rode many winners in the 1940s, Phonsie took out a training licence in 1956 and is best known for saddling four consecutive winners of the Galway Plate between 1962 and 1965, which remains a record.
“He was a big part of my dad’s operation in the National Hunt years and rode many winners for him as an amateur,” Charles O’Brien, son of Vincent, said.
“He was a very good trainer in his own right and specialised in the Galway Plate.
“He was a terrific man, a larger than life character and he’ll be missed by us all.”
Phonsie O’Brien is also credited as the trainer of 1960 Irish Derby winner Chamour.
At that time his eldest and most famous brother was serving an 18-month ban following a positive drugs test on the same horse three months earlier. The suspension was later reduced to 12 months.
