Flat/Pole/jump clinic with Shaun Malpass
Tuesday 01 July 2025
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Ireland has long been a powerhouse in global horse racing, producing generations of elite horses, jockeys, and trainers. The country’s training ranks are stacked with talent, but a handful of names stand apart for their enduring influence, groundbreaking success, and global recognition.
Whether you're following the action from the paddock to the post, learning what to look for in the parade ring, or approaching horse racing betting with more insight, these legendary trainers represent the best of Irish flat racing history.
Here’s a look at five of the most iconic flat trainers to have shaped the sport in Ireland and beyond.
Few figures in racing history have a legacy as profound as Vincent O'Brien. From his base at Ballydoyle in County Tipperary, he transformed Irish flat racing into a global force. Initially famous for his jumps training, O'Brien made a historic switch to the flat in the 1950s—and the rest is legend.
He won over 40 Classics, including the British and Irish versions of the Derby six times each—most notably with Nijinsky, who was the last horse to complete the English Triple Crown and only since World War II in 1970.
When Vincent retired in the mid-1990s, Aidan O’Brien (no relation) took the reins at Ballydoyle—and somehow elevated it even further. Now arguably the most successful flat trainer in the world, Aidan is known for his extraordinary attention to detail and ability to prepare horses for the biggest stages.
His partnership with the powerful Coolmore Stud has produced generations of champion racehorses and stallions, including the legendary Galileo—who won the British and Irish Derbies in 2001 and since sired five Epsom Derby winners and the iconic Frankel, to name just some of his offspring.
Veteran Dermot Weld is a true pioneer—an Irishman who wasn’t afraid to challenge international fields long before it became fashionable, with Vintage Crop notably the first horse from the Northern Hemisphere to win the Melbourne Cup in 1994.
At 76 years old, Weld is still going strong and is a model for longevity at the very top of flat racing. That’s proven by the 43 years that separated his Epsom Oaks successes with Blue Wind in 1981 and Ezeliya in 2024.
A fiercely independent and innovative force in Irish racing, Jim Bolger is a legendary trainer and a top-class breeder and mentor. From his base in County Carlow, he has built an entirely self-sufficient operation, often breeding and training his own stars.
The 83-year-old boasts 12 Classic successes in the UK and Ireland, including landing both versions of the Derby at Epsom and the Curragh. That’s a remarkable feat for a handler who lacks the funding of a global powerhouse like Coolmore or the Aga Khan.
Elegant in both style and philosophy, John Oxx was never one to chase numbers—but when he had a good horse, it usually turned out to be exceptional. From his Currabeg Stables, Oxx built a reputation as a master of patience and precision.
Sea The Stars propelled Oxx to new heights in 2009. The fabled horse won six Group 1 races in a row across Europe, including the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
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