O’Brien racehorse training and bloodstock firm books €1.2m profit

Ballydoyle boss had bumper year in 2012

Winning racehorse trainer  Aidan O’Brien speaks to jockey Tony McCoy and owner JP McManus after claiming an opening race of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival with   Plinth. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Winning racehorse trainer Aidan O’Brien speaks to jockey Tony McCoy and owner JP McManus after claiming an opening race of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival with Plinth. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

The racehorse training and bloodstock firm, operated by Aidan O’Brien, last year enjoyed a bumper year recording a profit of €1.269 million.

O'Brien's Whisperview Trading Ltd increased its accumulated profit from €4.35 million to €5.62 million in the 12 months to the end of January 31st last year.

Mr O'Brien (44), who oversees the Ballydoyle stable at John Magnier's Coolmore in Co Tipperary, was narrowly beaten to the British trainers' title in 2012 having won it previously in 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2008.

However, the period under review coincided with the O'Brien-trained Camelot romping home to win the English Investec Derby in June 2012 and scooping £751,408 in prize money.

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The jockey for the horse was Mr O’Brien’s son, Joseph, then aged 19, and the O’Briens became the first father-son, trainer-jockey combination to win the race.

The trainer has had a distinguished career in horse racing – in 2001 he became the youngest champion British trainer and leading horses Galileo and Giant's Causeway are just two of the exceptional talents he has developed.

The figures show Whisperview Trading Ltd’s cash during 2012 almost doubled, from €634,803 to €1.14 million.

The rise in accumulated profit last year is four times the €308,476 increase in profit in the previous fiscal year.

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan is a contributor to The Irish Times