O’Brien breaks world record
4 November 2001
Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien sets new record with 23 Group 1 winners
Aidan O’Brien, the extraordinary Irish horse handler who has just become the first overseas trainer to win theBritish championship in 24 years, has also taken on the mantle of world record holder.
By saddling Ballingarry to win the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in France on Tuesday, O’Brien took his score to 23 Group 1 winners this year, which beats the record of 22 held by United States trainer Bob Baffert.
O’Brien made his point in rare style at Saint-Cloud with a clean sweep.
Ballingarry, partnered by the young riding phenomenon Jamie Spencer, beat his stable companions Castle Gandolfo and Black Sam Bellamy in the 10 furlong event.
The Ballydoyle wizard has now won nine of the 10 European Group 1 races for two-year-old colts this season.
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Johannesburg with three, Rock Of Gibraltar (two), Hawk Wing, High Chaparral and Sholokhov are theother classy youngsters who have strutted their stuff at the highest level.
It was the third time O’Brien has completed a clean sweep in Group 1 company.
Black Minnaloushe headed home two stable companions in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Rock Of Gibraltar repeated the feat in the Dewhurst Stakes.
