After yesterday’s historic result in the Melbourne Cup where Joseph O’Brien’s Rekindling led home an Irish trained trifecta in Australia’s greatest horse race, I thought why not take a moment to realise that Irish racing is in rude health right now.

Not only is Joseph O’Brien the son of the brilliant Aidan O’Brien but the quietly spoken man is still only 24 years old, meaning that he can only get better at training his string of horses and help Irish racing succeed on the world stage.

 If he is half as good as his Father he will do just fine! The likes of Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead also have many years ahead of them.

Then there is the Ballydoyle maestro himself Aidan O’Brien, who just last month in the Racing Post Trophy broke the world record for Group One wins in a single year, it was an achievement that was celebrated around the world and further elevated the modest Tipperary man in the racing world. With Aidan being still the right side of 50, he could be around for another 20 years if he wanted. 

With Dermot Weld, Jim Bolger, and over jumps Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott. Irish racing can look forward to winning more big races overseas.

There is also a fantastic array of young jockeys coming through with Colin Keane holding of Pat Smullen in a pulsating duel to become Champion Jockey for the first time. Let’s not also forget Jack Kennedy who is having great success over the sticks, and at the age of 17 is already a Cheltenham festival winner.

Champion apprentice Oisin Orr is also a jockey who I have high hopes for.

So whenever the older generation of this sport do retire someday, the younger generation of trainers and jockeys will be ready to take over. Things are looking bright for the future.

Article by Jamie Lindsay