Aidan O'Brien congratulates his record-breaking son Joseph aboard Marvellous© Photo Healy Racing
The name of the winning horse, i.e. Marvellous wouldn't be a bad description for Joseph O'Brien's effort in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden at Navan, a race that yielded success number 116 of the campaign thus beating Michael Kinane's score, the previous top total of 115, achieved in 1993.
Half-an-hour earlier Joseph had equalled the landmark score on Sardinia but his chances of getting over the line in the next looked forlorn as he was 'after' the newcomer Marvellous from before the time they straightened up.
There were plenty travelling better at that stage but when it mattered most the winning Galileo filly found the more to prevail by half-a-length from another first-timer, the well-touted I'm Yours Third home Red Raven didn't get the clearest of passages and she finished off well in third, just another head adrift at the line.
Aidan O'Brien acknowledged afterwards: "I thought she'd be too green, but that hill in Navan – well it's a long way up there."
The Ballydoyle maestro then added: "We'll probably put her away now – she's a nice filly for next year.
"Obviously I'm delighted for Joseph and I must give a big thank you to all the owners who have supported him.
"Everyone knows it's not easy for him to do nine stone and it's a great achievement to break the record.
"Mick (Kinane) rode an incredible amount of Group 1 winners for us and what can you say about Mick – he's done it all. It's hard to believe it was twenty years ago when Mick set the previous record.
"Joseph was only born that year – it makes me feel fairly old. I think he's got more of his riding ability from his dam's side than his sire's side!"
Joseph himself had reflected earlier: "At the start of the season I was hoping to ride 100 winners. The horses have been running very well and I've had plenty of support from the owners of Ballydoyle as well as all the other trainers who have supported me."
He went on: "I'm not sure if it's any more difficult for me to do weight than anyone else but I'm very lucky that I have some really nice horses to ride."
Meanwhile Kinane was full of praise for O'Brien, 20, and philosophical about his record being taken away.
"Record are there to be broken," he said.
"I'm delighted for Joseph, he's one of a very good crop of young riders in Ireland at the moment.
"It's a great achievement for him and more so because of his weight problems.
"Ballydoyle are very powerful at the moment but he still has to do the job."
(AM & EM)
