With still over six weeks left in the season it would appear that Joseph O’Brien has all but wrapped up the Irish Flat Championship for a second consecutive year.
Some of the bookies have already paid out on O’Brien and with good reason.
With 110 wins so far this season O’Brien boasts a 27 per cent strike rate while he remains 32 wins ahead of Pat Smullen, his nearest rival.
Not bad for the 20-year-old who rode his first winner on Johann Zoffany for his father Aidan at Leopardstown on May 28th 2009.
There’s no doubt that the fire power at Ballydoyle affords O’Brien to ride some of the best horses around but he still has to deliver the results in an ultra competitive, pressurized environment.
O’Brien, who was denied victory on the Triple Crown seeking Camelot in last year’s St Leger by the Mahmood Al Zarooni trained Encke, notched up the seventh classic of his short career when Leading Light powered home in this year’s renewal at Doncaster just 11 days ago.
O’Brien has amassed £1.65million in prize money with eight wins from 38 runs in Britain alone this season while he has won over €2million in Ireland.
With Leading Light and Epsom Derby winner Ruler of the World possible contenders for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps on Sunday week Joseph O’Brien’s 2013 season, which has already been so successful, could yet be crowned by another prestigious victory.
