Eoin O'Brien continues on brilliant roll A fantastic December for amateur rider Eoin O'Brien was completed when the Caroline O'Brien-owned and Sean O'Brien-trained Gold Doubloons (cheek-pieces deployed) went in at odds of 33/1 in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race. O'Brien won on 7/1 shot Nevskij also here at Punchestown on December 10th, he took the honours on 33/1 chance For Freddie at Clonmel on the 22nd of the month, before registering a double at Limerick just last Monday. The winners at Limerick were Bothair Clei at 8/1 and Brave Poppy at 12s. Gold Doubloons, second in a couple of 'points' and seventh on her racecourse debut fifty three days back, was never far away and she asserted entering the straight on her way to a three and a half length success over Seeking Susan. "She ran in two point-to-points and messed up with her jumping both days when holding a chance. She was well beaten in a bumper at Limerick and maybe the cheek-pieces helped," reflected O'Brien. "She has a smashing pedigree and that's why we bought her as a broodmare. It's our first winner since my uncle Dick died. He was a big part of our operation and it will give everyone a bit of a lift." Eoin O'Brien is the trainer's second cousin. (AM & EM)
