Donnacha O'Brien
Donnacha O’Brien was born on July 22, 1998, the youngest of multiple champion trainer Aidan O’Brien’s four children.
Donnacha O’Brien was born on July 22, 1998, the youngest of multiple champion trainer Aidan O’Brien’s four children.
He began race-riding in 2014 and rode his first winner as a 16-year-old on Quartz, trained by his father, in an apprentices’ maiden race at Dundalk on September 7, 2014. It was obvious from a very early stage that he was going to make a talented jockey and his 2014 Irish Cesarewitch success on El Salvador was a sign of things to come. However, being very tall and, like his brother Joseph, having to constantly wage war with the scales, it was also obvious that his career would was destined to be a relatively short one.
He began race-riding in 2014 and rode his first winner as a 16-year-old on Quartz, trained by his father, in an apprentices’ maiden race at Dundalk on September 7, 2014. It was obvious from a very early stage that he was going to make a talented jockey and his 2014 Irish Cesarewitch success on El Salvador was a sign of things to come. However, being very tall and, like his brother Joseph, having to constantly wage war with the scales, it was also obvious that his career would was destined to be a relatively short one.
He gained his first Group 1 victory on 25-1 outsider Intricately, trained by his brother Joseph, in the 2016 Moyglare Stud Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend. That was a real family success as it was Joseph’s first official Group 1 win as a trainer and Intricately was bred by their mother, Anne Marie. Donnacha ended that year as Ireland’s Champion Apprentice.
He gained his first Group 1 victory on 25-1 outsider Intricately, trained by his brother Joseph, in the 2016 Moyglare Stud Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend. That was a real family success as it was Joseph’s first official Group 1 win as a trainer and Intricately was bred by their mother, Anne Marie. Donnacha ended that year as Ireland’s Champion Apprentice.
He achieved a second top-level success in the same race the following year when Happily led home a Moyglare Stakes 1-2-3 for his father.
He achieved a second top-level success in the same race the following year when Happily led home a Moyglare Stakes 1-2-3 for his father.
Saxon Warrior provided Donnacha with a first Group 1 outside of Ireland when storming clear to take the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on the first Saturday of May in 2018. He also won that year’s Oaks on Forever Together. But arguably the highlight of 2018 was on the final Saturday of June at the Curragh when he again teamed up with Joseph, this time to win the Irish Derby on Latrobe.
Saxon Warrior provided Donnacha with a first Group 1 outside of Ireland when storming clear to take the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on the first Saturday of May in 2018. He also won that year’s Oaks on Forever Together. But arguably the highlight of 2018 was on the final Saturday of June at the Curragh when he again teamed up with Joseph, this time to win the Irish Derby on Latrobe.
He also won three British Group 1 two-year-old races in 2018: the Cheveley Park Stakes on Fairyland, the Middle Park Stakes on Ten Sovereigns and the Vertem Futurity (formerly Racing Post) Trophy on Magna Grecia. He ended the year as Ireland’s Champion Jockey.
He also won three British Group 1 two-year-old races in 2018: the Cheveley Park Stakes on Fairyland, the Middle Park Stakes on Ten Sovereigns and the Vertem Futurity (formerly Racing Post) Trophy on Magna Grecia. He ended the year as Ireland’s Champion Jockey.
Donnacha won a second successive 2,000 Guineas in 2019 on Magna Grecia. What proved to his final Group 1 win came on Magical in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on British Champions Day, October 19, 2019.
Donnacha won a second successive 2,000 Guineas in 2019 on Magna Grecia. What proved to his final Group 1 win came on Magical in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on British Champions Day, October 19, 2019.
He emulated his elder brother by retaining his Champion Jockey title in 2019, riding 111 winners and narrowly beating Colin Keane in a season which saw two jockeys ride over 100 winners in a season in Ireland for the first time.
He emulated his elder brother by retaining his Champion Jockey title in 2019, riding 111 winners and narrowly beating Colin Keane in a season which saw two jockeys ride over 100 winners in a season in Ireland for the first time.
He rode what proved to be his last winner on Nobel Prize for his father Aidan in a two-year-old maiden on final day of season at Naas on November 3, 2019. Later that same afternoon he had his final ride on Perfect Tapatino, trained by Joseph, finishing fourth in the Listed Finale Stakes.
He rode what proved to be his last winner on Nobel Prize for his father Aidan in a two-year-old maiden on final day of season at Naas on November 3, 2019. Later that same afternoon he had his final ride on Perfect Tapatino, trained by Joseph, finishing fourth in the Listed Finale Stakes.
Donnacha announced his retirement from race riding on November 25, 2019 at the age of just 21 to embark on a training career, with his establishment already set up in Longfield, County Tipperary. He made the transition having achieved a remarkable amount during his five years in the saddle.
Donnacha announced his retirement from race riding on November 25, 2019 at the age of just 21 to embark on a training career, with his establishment already set up in Longfield, County Tipperary. He made the transition having achieved a remarkable amount during his five years in the saddle.
Donnacha won the 2014 Irish Cesarewitch on El Salvador
Donnacha won the 2014 Irish Cesarewitch on El Salvador
Aged 19, Donnacha had his first ride in the Arc (Order of St George (4th, 2017)
Aged 19, Donnacha had his first ride in the Arc (Order of St George (4th, 2017)