Sports Digest: Breeder’s Cup joy for Aidan O’Brien’s family

O'Brien victorious at Churchill Downs

Coolmore partner Derrick Smith said, “This is way up there. We’ve always had faith in the horse and to see Joseph, it’s a day from the gods. They have put so much work into everything. It’s unbelievable for us.

“Joseph has unbelievable natural talent, he was a three-day event rider and his confidence gets better and better.

“With this horse, we always knew the ability was there. He finished sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last year which wasn’t a bad run, but then sustained an injury that kept him off for a year.

“Everything came together today, but make no mistake he has always been a brilliant horse. The horse showed all his brilliance today, we always knew it was there.”

O’Brien, big for a flat jockey at almost six foot tall, admits he will eventually switch to the jumps. “I’ll keep riding on the flat for as long as possible, and take it from there,” he concluded.

The win by St. Nicholas Abbey was the second of the day for O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable after Ryan Moore and Wrote to Glory triumphed in the Juvenile Turf event, but the O’Brien trained So You Think failed to make the places in the Classic which was won by Drosselmeyer.

In other racing news, Johnny Murtagh has been crowned Ireland’s leading flat jockey again after a double on the final day of the season at Leopardstown saw him pip rival Pat Smullen to the title.

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Nster.com