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Aidan O'Brien: Top 10 horses

Could City Of Troy become Ballydoyle's next great following Newmarket win?

Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Aidan O'Brien: Top 10 horses

The Dewhurst Stakes has often proved the starting point in a long and prosperous career for former O'Brien favourites

A dominant Dewhurst Stakes victory earned City of Troy comparisons to wonder horse Frankel while sparking a fresh debate over Aidan O’Brien’s greatest ever horse, writes Ben Hart.

Thirteen years on from Frankel’s victory in the same race at Newmarket, Ballydoyle’s latest prodigy roared to a three-and-a-half length triumph.

It was O’Brien’s eighth success in the Group 1, but even he was taken aback by the totemic two-year-old.

“We’ve never had anything like him,” O’Brien said. “I’ve never had a horse that never gets tired. I’ve never had a horse where we don’t know where the limit is. We usually push them to the limit, but we can never find his limit.

“There is no doubt he is the best two-year-old I’ve trained.”

With the son of Justify having sealed his star status, we’ve delved into the archives and picked out 10 of the best O’Brien-trained horses.

Galileo

Arguably the horse City of Troy will have usurp to be considered O’Brien’s number one, Galileo’s record on the track and at stud is unrivalled.

After a treble at Leopardstown, Galileo was unleashed unto the wider racing world at the 2001 Epsom Derby, roaring to a comfortable three-and-a-half length victory.

Two more Grade 1 successes followed in a golden summer, firstly the Irish Derby and then the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, the latter of which had jockey Mick Kinane declaring: “this is without doubt the best race-horse I've ever ridden.”

Champion Sire for 11 consecutive years, Galileo’s achievements at stud matched his efforts on the track, most notably siring the famous Frankel, one of 91 individual Group 1 winners.

Yeats

A mere mention of the Ascot Gold Cup brings back memories of Yeats’ remarkable and fittingly regal four in a row.

Victory in the 2005 Coronation Cup was not initially backed up, but Yeats soon took a liking to Berkshire and the marathon distance.

He smashed the Goodwood Cup record time in 2006 but his feats at Ascot are what sealed his place in racing history, winning by a combined 14 lengths across his four Gold Cups between 2006 and 2009 – a tally which is still to be beaten.

Istabraq

The outstanding hurdler of his generation and one of O’Brien’s early great success stories, Istabraq conquered all before him.

Winner of three successive Champion Hurdles and four Irish Champion Hurdles, Istabraq was originally trained for the Flat by John Gosden.

O’Brien and JP McManus had a different vision and 23 hurdling victories later, it’s fair to say they got this one right.

Rip Van Winkle

Steady progression throughout 2009 catapulted Rip Van Winkle to stardom, culminating in his magnum opus, the Sussex Stakes.

His Goodwood glory came after a couple of near misses at Epsom and Sandown, when Sea The Stars proved just too strong.

The son of Galileo saved one last stirring victory for late in his final season, claiming the Juddmonte International Stakes after a perfect ride from Johnny Murtagh.

Hawk Wing

American bred but one of Ballydoyle’s favourite sons, Hawk Wing is O’Brien’s highest-rated horse according to Timeform.

It was an astounding 11-length win at the 2003 Lockinge Stakes which propelled him to a rating of 136 – a redemptive seasonal reappearance after finishing second on four occasions as a three-year-old.

Giant’s Causeway

While beaten in the 2,000 Guineas on both sides of the Irish Sea, Giant’s Causeway remains one of O’Brien’s most versatile greats.

A Group 1 winner at 7f, 1m and 1m2f, he produced an impressive five top-flight victories during his three-year-old season – a record at that age only Galileo can rival.

So You Think

So You Think arrived in Ireland with a hefty fee and even loftier expectations but lived up to the hype with five Group 1 wins.

A serial winner for trainer Bart Cummings down under, So You Think was one of the very best to pass through O’Brien’s hands.

He beat some of the finest horses of his generation on his way to the Irish Gold Cup, Coral-Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, and was only beaten to the 2011 Champion Stakes by the great Cirrus Des Aigles.

Stravinsky

A track-record winning tilt in the 1999 July Cup at Newmarket earned sprint sensation Stravinsky legendary status.

It took a little longer than expected for Stravinsky to fulfil his potential, but there was no doubting his pedigree after his second Group 1 success, and O’Brien’s first at the Nunthorpe Stakes in York.  

Rock of Gibraltar

Another Dewhurst Stakes victor, Rock of Gibraltar made history when becoming the first horse to win seven Group 1s in a row when claiming the 2002 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

One of the best milers of his era, he showed great promise when beating better-fancied stablemate Hawk Wing in the 2000 Guineas in 2002 and went on to dominate across the UK before finishing a close second on his final start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Paddington

O’Brien’s standard-bearer in recent years, Paddington has enjoyed a sensational 2023 with St James’s Palace Stakes success and Coral-Eclipse glory.

A titanic tussle with Tahiyra on his return to Ascot this weekend could determine just how highly he ranks in the pantheon of O’Brien horses.

Former top-class jockey Adrian Maguire partners Paddington daily at Ballydoyle and hailed him the ‘best I’ve ever ridden’ after his Sussex Stakes success.

And while he may be only two, it seems inevitable that City Of Troy will be the next to try and lay claim to the title as O'Brien's greatest ever. 



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