Behind the scenes with Aidan O'Brien: watching a genius at work

Did you know every horse wears a heart monitor? And that Tom Curtis can tell who each one is by just looking at their heart rate.

Or are you aware that every two-year-old is rated as each week goes by, and Sue Magnier chooses their names based on that pecking order?

You might have known that every furlong is timed, but did you know John Magnier phoned Aidan O’Brien in excitement after realising Australia did four 12-second furlongs in a row in his early juvenile days? He wasn’t even named at that stage.

I bet you had absolutely no idea Sergei Prokofiev was the fastest horse to whoosh up the woodchip gallop, either.

This is a Monday morning that just kept on giving.

Aidan O'Brien's string on the gallops at Ballydoyle on MondayCredit: Patrick McCann

Welcome to Ballydoyle, where it has just gone 7.30am and first lot, comprising 65 of the best-bred colts and fillies, are circling in the indoor arena. O’Brien, who has been up since five, is whispering into a walkie-talkie.

“Just into a slow trot now everyone. Slow. Slow. That’s it. As slow as you can go.”

The reason for the softly spoken tone is because each of the 65 work-riders have been fitted with an earpiece. They're listening intently to every word. They first walk clockwise around the outside, then in a figure of eight, before gently progressing into a slow trot.

“This is their stretching – it loosens them right out," explains the trainer. "The smallest little thing can make a big difference. We're always tweaking things.

“It's all about getting them fit without taking away their speed,” he says as we walk out to watch workouts on the gallop, four furlongs with a steep climb on woodchip.

“Can you hear that sound? I love hearing that,” O’Brien remarks, imitating the horses with his own lips while doing so. “You want to know oxygen is getting to their lungs properly. That’s the sound I love. I want to see a nice expression on their faces.”

First lot warm up at Ballydoyle on MondayCredit: Patrick McCann

There are some very familiar faces among the work-riders, none more familiar than former Gold Cup-winning jockey Adrian Maguire. Paul Moloney is here too, as is Dean Gallagher.

Add them to the likes of O'Brien's own son Donnacha, Wayne Lordan, Padraig Beggy, Michael Hussey, Killian Hennessy, Ben Dalton and Alan Crowe and you've got yourself the best team of work-riders in the world.

“It's all about people, you're kidding yourself if you think otherwise," says O'Brien. "We've a serious team of riders. We try to put the right personalities with the horses, match them as best we can. Communication is crucial.”

Ryan Moore is a more frequent visitor too.

“Ryan's here a bit more this year," O'Brien reveals. "He has a young family and we don’t want to be pulling and dragging him too often, but it's nice to get him to know the horses.

"I'd pick what he rides in a race, but he's never afraid of being on the wrong one. He's a real team player, very trusting. He never cribs.”

Time for the debrief as the horses walk by after the first of two gallops.

“Okay Aaron? Okay Adrian? Okay Alan?” Each and every one is addressed by their first name. No hesitation. Impressive. There's no negative feedback so we head for breakfast.

Tiger Roll’s dual National-winning achievement is unsurprisingly the first topic of conversation. That leads us to the time Life Of A Lord’s saddle slipped in the National, O'Brien's only runner to date in the race.

Would you like to still train a few jumpers, Aidan? “Ah, I just wouldn’t have the time unfortunately," he replies. "It would be lovely, but it's just a time thing”

Aidan O'Brien issues instructions to his work-ridersCredit: Patrick McCann

We move on to Sir Erec, who suffered a fatal injury in the Triumph Hurdle, having moved from Aidan to Joseph O'Brien.

“It was an awful shame what happened," says O'Brien snr. "I've never had a horse like him to go jumping before. He had an amazing attitude.”

We could have chatted all day, but second lot is waiting. O’Brien is buzzing with the enthusiasm of a teenager let out to a disco for the first time.

“I enjoy it more now than ever," he says. "This isn’t a job, this is my hobby. This is all I do. My whole life is horses. It's full-on but I enjoy it. This is my golf. I'm the same as a passionate golfer, only my passion is horses.”

Did you ever play golf, Aidan? “I did," he says. "I played in Barbados but I was trying to hit the ball too hard. I was too quick. I wanted to be better than I was. It wasn’t for me.”

It is time to head into the office to sort out the entries.

Chris Armstrong, who spent a few years with Gai Waterhouse, is a new recruit and points out that the Greenham, John Porter and Fred Darling entries are closing. Polly Murphy is another integral part of the administration team.

“I need everything spelt out for me – I do very little thinking myself, it’s all done for me,” laughs O’Brien.

Sitting on his desk are sheets with split-times for all the horses in their work.

O'Brien recalls: “When Australia was a two-year-old, John [Magnier] rang me one day to tell me we had a very good two-year-old by Galileo. He was able to tell me he did four 12-second furlongs. You see, everything is timed here.

“We'd rate the two-year-olds every week and Mrs Magnier would name them based on that. If you see a bad horse with a good name you'll know there's only one person to blame and that’s me!

“Information is important but to feel it, you have to see it, and I'd still use my eye more than anything. My instinct dominates everything.”

And that instinct is incomparable.

Five of the best for this season

Japan

Aidan O'Brien often runs his best middle-distance prospects in the Beresford Stakes as juveniles, and although Japan appeared to be Ballydoyle's third choice he passed that test with flying colours. The 10-1 Derby second favourite is expected to improve with just the three starts under his belt.

Japan: second favourite for the Investec DerbyCredit: Patrick McCann

Ten Sovereigns

A lightning-fast juvenile, Ten Sovereigns built on his seven-length maiden win to score in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes and then beat a strong field in the Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket. The son of No Nay Never rates O'Brien's strongest chance in the 2,000 Guineas and will head there without a prep.

Sergei Prokofiev

Highly regarded last season, Sergei Prokofiev proved five furlongs was what he wanted when winning the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket in October and he looks set to shoot to the top of the sprinting ranks as a three-year-old based on his winning reappearance in the Cork Stakes.

Kew Gardens: stayed on strongly to win the St LegerCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Kew Gardens

It speaks volumes that dual Group 1 winner Kew Gardens remains in training as a four-year-old, and he should pose a strong threat to last year's champion stayer Stradivarius this season. Winner of the 1m6f Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, he had sufficient speed to win the Grand Prix de Paris over a mile and a half at Longchamp and was well on top in the St Leger in September.

Just Wonderful

Just Wonderful was a slightly in-and-out performer at two, but looked a smart prospect when beating Dandhu in the Rockfel Stakes and finished off her season in good style when fourth to Newspaperofrecord at the Breeders' Cup. Her Newmarket form will stand her in good stead back at the Rowley Mile next month and she is 10-1 joint-favourite for the 1,000 Guineas.
Maddy Playle

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