O’Brien happy with best available
Johnny Murtagh stepped down as retained rider for one of Flat racing’s most powerful yards last year and a successor has not been appointed.
Ryan Moore remains attached to the Sir Michael Stoute yard, but has come in for a number of high-profile rides for the Coolmore operation, as has former Ballydoyle number one Kieren Fallon.
With Seamus Heffernan, Colm O’Donoghue and O’Brien’s son Joseph remaining a big part of the riding plans, as well as Christophe Soumillon and Mickael Barzalona taking high-profile mounts, the trainer insists he could not be happier with the current set-up.
“We’re very happy with the situation. We’re very happy there are great jockeys available and I would say the jockeys available now are as good, if not better, than ever,” O’Brien told At The Races.
“We know everyone has retainers, but different people suit different horses at different stages of their careers.
“We have Seamus and Colm and Joseph and there are so many good jockeys available most of the time, we’re just so lucky.
“Everyone will have their views at different times and different people will be available when others won’t be – it’s a juggling thing really.
“Ryan has been riding as much as he can for us, everyone knows how good a jockey he is and there are all the other lads as well.
“We’re lucky to be able to call on their services.”
Meanwhile, O’Brien says Cape Blanco could clash with top milers Goldikova and Canford Cliffs in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The four-year-old won the Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes last season and was fourth in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March.
Cape Blanco, a three-time winner at 7f as a juvenile, has never run over a mile but could make his debut over the distance in the opening race at Royal Ascot on June 14.
“There’s a big chance he will run,” said O'Brien. “Originally we had thought about running him in the Guineas as a three-year-old but things just went a little bit pear shaped on him but there’s a big chance he may go to Ascot.”
