Phonsie O'Brien
Phonsie O’Brien
Phonsie O’Brien
1929-2016
1929-2016
Alphonse Septimus O’Brien was the youngest of seven sons born and raised near the village of Churchtown, Conty Cork. His second name, Septimus, reflects the fact that he was the seventh son of Dan O'Brien. Over time, young Alphonsus came to be known simply as ‘Phonsie’.
Alphonse Septimus O’Brien was the youngest of seven sons born and raised near the village of Churchtown, Conty Cork. His second name, Septimus, reflects the fact that he was the seventh son of Dan O'Brien. Over time, young Alphonsus came to be known simply as ‘Phonsie’.
He rode as an amateur from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s and played an integral part in the successful training career of his bother Vincent O’Brien. His job description included work rider, head lad, amateur jockey, mucker-out, vet, feeder and horse transporter.
He rode as an amateur from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s and played an integral part in the successful training career of his bother Vincent O’Brien. His job description included work rider, head lad, amateur jockey, mucker-out, vet, feeder and horse transporter.
Phonsie’s prominence as a leading amateur rider grew proportionately to Vincent’s success. He rode 24 winners, 12 seconds and three thirds from 66 rides in 1950, ending the year with a flourish by riding winning seven races from eight rides at Limerick’s two-day Christmas meeting.
Phonsie’s prominence as a leading amateur rider grew proportionately to Vincent’s success. He rode 24 winners, 12 seconds and three thirds from 66 rides in 1950, ending the year with a flourish by riding winning seven races from eight rides at Limerick’s two-day Christmas meeting.
He surpassed that score in 1951, riding 27 winners, 10 seconds and eight thirds from 73 mounts. He finished second on his brother’s Royal Tan in that year’s Irish Grand National, then just 12 days later, steered Royal Tan into second place behind Nickel Coin in the Aintree Grand National, a bad mistake at the last fence robbing them of almost certain victory.
He surpassed that score in 1951, riding 27 winners, 10 seconds and eight thirds from 73 mounts. He finished second on his brother’s Royal Tan in that year’s Irish Grand National, then just 12 days later, steered Royal Tan into second place behind Nickel Coin in the Aintree Grand National, a bad mistake at the last fence robbing them of almost certain victory.
Although Royal Tan was an established chaser, he had not won over hurdles. Thus, Phonsie’s first win in England was when steering him to a comfortable success in the Cowley Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on November 14, 1951.
Although Royal Tan was an established chaser, he had not won over hurdles. Thus, Phonsie’s first win in England was when steering him to a comfortable success in the Cowley Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on November 14, 1951.
Phonsie won two races at Cheltenham’s 1952 National Hunt Chase, both trained by Vincent, landing division one of the Gloucestershire Hurdle on Cockatoo and the National Hunt Handicap Chase on Royal Tan. The following month he rode Royal Tan in the Grand National and was again unlucky, falling at the last fence when lying third and still in with a winning chance.
Phonsie won two races at Cheltenham’s 1952 National Hunt Chase, both trained by Vincent, landing division one of the Gloucestershire Hurdle on Cockatoo and the National Hunt Handicap Chase on Royal Tan. The following month he rode Royal Tan in the Grand National and was again unlucky, falling at the last fence when lying third and still in with a winning chance.
In the summer of 1952, he won two British amateur riders’ Flat races, the first at Lewes, the second at Worcester, on his brother’s future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Knock Hard.
In the summer of 1952, he won two British amateur riders’ Flat races, the first at Lewes, the second at Worcester, on his brother’s future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Knock Hard.
Phonsie’s only other wins in England were achieved during the 1954/55 campaign, all three of them on Vincent’s novice hurdler Vindore. After comfortable odds-on wins at Haydock in January and again in February, they duly justified even-money favouritism in division one of the Gloucestershire Hurdle at Cheltenham, giving Phonsie his third (and last) Festival success.
Phonsie’s only other wins in England were achieved during the 1954/55 campaign, all three of them on Vincent’s novice hurdler Vindore. After comfortable odds-on wins at Haydock in January and again in February, they duly justified even-money favouritism in division one of the Gloucestershire Hurdle at Cheltenham, giving Phonsie his third (and last) Festival success.
In 1956 Phonsie took out a trainer’s licence, based at South Lodge, Carrick-on-Suir and then later at Thomastown Stables in Cashel.
In 1956 Phonsie took out a trainer’s licence, based at South Lodge, Carrick-on-Suir and then later at Thomastown Stables in Cashel.
Hie is credited with training the 1960 Irish Derby winner Chamour. Vincent O’Brien had trained Chamour but was banned for 18 months after the same horse had controversially failed a drugs test three months earlier. A miniscule grain of an amphetamine derivative called methyl amphetamine had been detected in Chamour’s sweat. The horse, along with the rest of the Ballydoyle string, was nominally transferred to Phonsie. Therefore, the record books list the name A. S. O’Brien officially as both the champion and Derby-winning trainer for 1960. Vincent was subsequently cleared to return to training without a blemish on his character a year later.
Hie is credited with training the 1960 Irish Derby winner Chamour. Vincent O’Brien had trained Chamour but was banned for 18 months after the same horse had controversially failed a drugs test three months earlier. A miniscule grain of an amphetamine derivative called methyl amphetamine had been detected in Chamour’s sweat. The horse, along with the rest of the Ballydoyle string, was nominally transferred to Phonsie. Therefore, the record books list the name A. S. O’Brien officially as both the champion and Derby-winning trainer for 1960. Vincent was subsequently cleared to return to training without a blemish on his character a year later.
Phonsie trained the winner of the Galway Plate four years in succession, with Mrs Miles Valentine’s Carraroe (ridden by Fred Winter) in 1962, Lord Fermoy’s Blunt’s Cross (Bobby Beasley) in 1963, and back-to-back wins with Mrs Gillian Buchanan’s Ross Sea (Stan Mellor) in 1964 and 1965.
Phonsie trained the winner of the Galway Plate four years in succession, with Mrs Miles Valentine’s Carraroe (ridden by Fred Winter) in 1962, Lord Fermoy’s Blunt’s Cross (Bobby Beasley) in 1963, and back-to-back wins with Mrs Gillian Buchanan’s Ross Sea (Stan Mellor) in 1964 and 1965.
In his later years he lived at Landscape Stud near Kilsheelan in Co. Tipperary, and bred many winners on the Flat and over jumps.
In his later years he lived at Landscape Stud near Kilsheelan in Co. Tipperary, and bred many winners on the Flat and over jumps.
Phonsie O’Brien died peacefully at his home near Kilsheelan on July 5, 2016, aged 86. He left a wife, Anne, and daughters Gillian, Yvonne, Mary and Ann and four grandchildren.
Phonsie O’Brien died peacefully at his home near Kilsheelan on July 5, 2016, aged 86. He left a wife, Anne, and daughters Gillian, Yvonne, Mary and Ann and four grandchildren.
