Godolphin have 2 trainers in the UK with Saeed Bin Suroor and Charlie Appleby and yet they last had a Group 1 winner in the Britain in 2013! Aiden O’Brien has won 20 Group 1’s this SEASON with 17 of these in Britain.

The Group 1 wins started this season in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket where his very talent Filly Minding won at Evens. She led home a straight 1/2/3 for the ratings and for Aiden O’Brien with Ballydoyle finishing 2nd and Alice Springs 3rd.

After the Gurkha won the French 2000 Guineas the 3rd Group 1 came in the shape of Minding winning again, this time in the Oaks. Again she was TOP RATED on the ratings and even more clear than when running and winning the Guineas!

Just 2 weeks later Aiden O’Brien was collecting more Group 1 prizes, this time at Royal Ascot with Order of St George winning the Gold Cup in very impressive style.

Just 10 days later it was Minding winning her 3rd Group 1 race in just over 1 month! The Pretty Polly was by no means a vintage renewal due to Minding scaring away most of her opposition but she was a comfortably winner.

Alice Springs won the Falmouth, Seventh Heaven won the Irish Oaks, Highland Reel won the King George VI Stakes and Minding the Nassau Stakes.
Aiden’s dominance has continued throughout the season with Alice Springs winning another Group 1 in the Matron Stakes and Churchill winning the Vincent O’Brien stakes.

In the last month Aiden has won the Cheveley Park stakes with Brave Anna who led home a 1-2 for the team with Roly Poly finishing 2nd, Found led home an incredible 1-2-3 in the Arc, Rhododendron led home a 1-2 in the Dubai Fillies Miles before Churchill led home a 1-2 in the Dewhurst.

Of all of these Group 1 winners we have rated 12 of these 17 TOP RATED so as well as having the right horses, Aiden O’Brien has been placing his horses very well. This can be seen more by looking at the career of Churchill.

Churchill was sent off 2/1 favourite for his maiden over 6f at the Curragh. After coming off the bridle early he was given a very good introductory ride with just one use of the whip and he ran on really well for 3rd. His next run came at Royal Ascot in a Listed race and after being the best backed horse of the whole meeting he stayed on well over 7f to narrowly get up but he had progressed well from run 1 to 2.

After winning at Royal Ascot he went to Leopardstown for a Group 3 and again only won by a narrow margin but he was winning and progressing with each run. His following run he was stepped up to a Group 2 event and although there was only 4 runners he won easily and was finishing his race off really well and once again he had progressed from his previous run.

His next 2 runs have both been Group 1’s and with both he has been finishing his race off really well and although was looking for a run at Newmarket once it came he powered clear.

This softly, softly approach by Aiden looks to have worked wonders and slowly progressing up the Listed and Group ladder could well see this horse maintain his form longer. All too often trainers jump from winning a maiden straight into Group 2 or even Group 1 class and this doesn’t allow the horse to progress in a racing environment as well.

It’ll certainly be interesting to see how many more Group 1 wins Aiden O’Brien can record before the season finishes!