LEADING jockey Donnacha OBrien has announced his retirement from the saddle.
The multiple Group 1-winning rider, who claimed his second Irish champion jockey crown this year, is set to embark on a training career.
O’Brien, 21, the son of record-breaking trainer Aidan, rode his final top level winner at Ascot last month aboard Magical in the Champion Stakes.
He rode four Classic winners during his short but hugely successful career, including back-to-back 2000 Guineas wins on Saxon Warrior and Magna Grecia.
He announced the news on Twitter that he would follow big brother Joseph into the training ranks next year.
He said: After thinking about things for a while, I have decided to concentrate on training next year.
Riding has been very good to me and I owe everything to the people around me.
I want to give special thanks to the Magnier, Smith and Tabor families, along with my own family, for all their support.
I look forward to training a small group of horses next year and will hopefully build from there.
