Aidan O’Brien closing in on the 4,000th winner at Irish Champions Festival

Friday, 8 September 2023 16:18

By Clem Ryan

O’Brien’s tally currently stands at 3,994 winners

Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien is closing in on his 4,000^th career winner ahead of Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown tomorrow and at the Curragh on Sunday.

This would mark another significant milestone for the record-breaking Wexford man who has trained horses to win all around the world over jumps and on the Flat since taking out his licence in June 1993.

O’Brien’s tally currently stands at 3,994 winners. Ahead of the weekend, the Ballydoyle handler runs Kestral at Ascot today and will be well represented over Irish Champions Weekend by the likes of Diego Velazquez (KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes) and Auguste Rodin (Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes) at Leopardstown along with Ylang Ylang (Moyglare Stud Stakes), City Of Troy (Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes) and Kyprios (Comer Group International Irish St Leger) at the Curragh - just five of his team with strong form claims over the two days.

O’Brien will become the third Irish trainer to achieve this milestone. Dermot Weld recorded his 4,000^th winner with Sea Swift at Naas in 2016. Willie Mullins also hit his landmark 4,000^th winner when Bronn won at Fairyhouse on January 28 this year.