Aidan O’Brien to train Le Brivido

AIDAN O’Brien will train the 2017 Jersey Stakes winner Le Brivido next year. Formerly with Andre Fabre, the son of Siyouni looked destined for the top after winning at Royal Ascot as a three-year-old but injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. Coolmore Stud bought a share in the horse at the start of this year but, after one below-par run at Newmarket in April, a bruised foot meant that he did not race again.

Enable to return

A PLACE in racing history as the first three-time winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be the ultimate aim for Enable after connections announced she would stay in training in 2019.

Owner Prince Khalid Abdullah has decided to roll the dice again with the daughter of Nathaniel, whose truncated three-race campaign this year saw her win a second Arc at ParisLongchamp before following up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

The owner’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: “She still enjoys her racing, so she will be given her chance to make a bit of history.”

Another top class mare staying in training is triple Group 1 winner Wild Illusion. Trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, the daughter of Dubawi won the Prix Marcel Boussac as a two-year-old and this year landed the Nassau Stakes and Prix de l’Opera, before she signed off the year with a second placing in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs.

Donegal loses pony racing fan

THE HORSE and pony racing community was saddened to learn this week of the sudden passing of Donegal racegoer Simon ‘Sambo’ McBride. He was buried yesterday. A spokesperson for the North-West region said: “We would like to offer our condolences to the McBride family and friends on the sudden passing of Simon. Sambo was involved in racing for many years and a great racegoer. He also enjoyed his annual trip to the Dingle Races. He was also very well known in the farming community and will be sadly missed. May he rest in peace.”

Gary Stevens retires - again

TOP American jockey Gary Stevens is retiring – for a second and final time. The 55-year-old announced his retirement in 2005 due to knee problems but made a comeback in 2013. However a persistent back injury has forced him to quit the saddle for good. Stevens has won the Kentucky Derby three times and ridden 11 Breeders’ Cup winners.

ITBA Apprentice deadline looms

THERE is less than a fortnight before the closing date for applications for the ITBA Next Generation apprentice scheme. The format has been changed this year so that up to 10 apprentices will be selected and placed in paid employment on stud farms for one year. The trainees will also receive personal and professional mentoring. Further information is available from Isabelle Carroll at the ITBA office.

Tel: 045 877543

Email: icrosse@itba.ie

Web: itbang.ie

Too Darley Hot

CHAMPION two-year-old Too Darn Hot will stand at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket when his racing days are over, following an agreement between Watership Down Stud and Godolphin.

Darley strengthened its Japanese stallion roster this week with the addition of Talismanic, the Breeders’ Cup Turf winner trained by Andre Fabre.

O’Briens top poll

AIDAN and Annemarie O’Brien have won the Connolly’s Red Mills The Irish Field Breeder of the Month Award for October. Under the Whisperview Trading banner, they bred Group 1 Fillies’ Mile winner Iridessa, which was trained by their son, Joseph.

Aldaniti owner dies, aged 81

NICK Embiricos, owner of Grand National winner Aldaniti, has died, aged 81. Embiricos showed tremendous patience to horse and rider Bob Champion, who both overcame life-threatening problems to win the Aintree racee in 1981. After that fairytale triumph, Embiricos helped establish the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and was chairman for many years.

Tribute paid to Monet’s Garden

NICKY Richards hailed Monet’s Garden as “everything you could want in a racehorse” following the death of the popular grey this week, aged 20.

The Roselier gelding won 17 of his 32 starts under rules, including three victories in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree, a race now named after him.

Richards said: “He was very good at Aintree and beat Kauto Star there one day. He also won a couple of Ascot Chases, the Ascot Hurdle when it was run at Windsor and he also put that good French horse Mid Dancer in his place at Carlisle one day.

He just had everything you could want in a racehorse. He could jump and gallop and was as game as a pebble. He’d have to be the best I’ve ever trained, for sure.”

Cumani bows out

THERE was to be no fairytale ending to Luca Cumani’s illustrious training career after his final runner had to make do with a fast-finishing second at Wolverhampton on Thursday evening.

The Italian trainer announced last month he had decided to call it a day after 43 years at Bedford House Stables in Newmarket.

With Bedford House due to be sold early next year, Cumani and his wife Sara will move across Newmarket to live and work at Fittocks Stud.