| Young Tom keen to make a name for himself
By David Thorpe
 Young Wexford jockey
Tom O’Brien is taking the racing world by storm and says 2007 will
be his year.
Nineteen-year-old Tommy is a nephew of top Irish flat trainer Aidan O’Brien
and he says he learned a lot from his uncle.
He said: “My father works for Aidan and I started riding out there
when I was 14. I am 5ft 10ins so I was never going to be able to make
it as a flat jockey and by the time it came to riding in races Aidan was
only training flat horses.
“However he got me the job with Phillip Hobbs in England. It was
pure chance really, Phillip was visiting Ballydoyle and mentioned that
he was looking for an amateur jockey. Mr Hobbs and myself got on very
well and so I thought I would give it a try.”
If his family connections helped Tom on his way then his career moved
onto another level as he brilliantly grasped the opportunities presented
to him.
In his first season in England he was crowned champion amateur. Last year
he rode over 70 winners and was named champion conditional jockey.
Looking to the year ahead O’Brien believes he can continue his exceptional
form but accepts he has many to thank for getting him this far in his
career.
He said: “Peter Bowen showed great confidence in me from the start
putting me up on some very good horses.
“He was starting to make a name for himself just as I was turning
professional and he put me up on a few winners. That and the fact that
Phillip Hobbs put me up on a horse called Captain Correlli, which won
the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock helped make it a great year after I
had only just turned professional.”
Tom’s successes saw him picked up by top jockey’s agent Dave
Roberts who is in no doubt the youngster has a glittering future ahead
of him.
Roberts said: “Horses clearly run for him and he deserves this
success. He’s well-mannered and professional in everything he does,
and none of this has gone to his head.
“I’ve been lucky enough to work with the likes of Adrian Maguire,
Tony McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald throughout their careers and Tom has the
potential to be joining them.”
Punters would be well advised to closely follow O’Brien as he could
well have the Midas touch in 2007.
|
