O'Briens claim Irish title double

Monday 5 November 2012, 9:22am

Joseph O'Brien has put the seal on another brilliant Irish Flat season for his famous family by winning his first jockeys' championship at the age of 19.

Champion apprentice only a year ago and joint-champion the season before, O'Brien junior showed how much he had grown into the real deal in such a short time despite having a constant battle with his weight.

It is more than 60 years since a jockey was crowned champion apprentice one year and champion jockey the next.

Aidan O'Brien has been champion trainer continuously since 1998, but the achievement of the O'Briens in winning both titles is the first time a father and son have been crowned since 1916.

Joseph proved the perfect partner as stable jockey to his father's powerful Ballydoyle establishment with a host of big-race winners both at home and abroad, highlighted for the most part by Camelot, whose three Classic successes included the Irish Derby.

Among his other successes in Ireland for his father were Power in the Irish 2000 Guineas and So You Think in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

As for the title, the young rider was pushed hard by six-times champion Pat Smullen before taking the honours by 87 winners to 84.

However, neither protagonist was involved in the final weekend of the Irish Flat season as both were in America for the Breeders' Cup.

Completing a clean sweep for the Coolmore team is Derrick Smith, who claimed the champion owner title.

Smith is part of the Coolmore triumvirate along with John Magnier and Michael Tabor, and his purple-and-white colours were carried to success this season by So You Think and Camelot among others.

– PAA

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