Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, the sole handler with entries in all four Group One races at the Longines Hong Kong International Races commencing on 10th December, arrived in the city on 6th December. He immediately went to Sha Tin to supervise the track work sessions for his horses: Aesop’s Fables, Cairo, Luxembourg, and Warm Heart.
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Though O’Brien typically refrains from publicly ranking his horses, his observations at the track hint that he believes longer races offer better prospects for success on Sunday, especially considering his three-time Hong Kong Vase-winning history. Recently, he shared his morning routine during this high-pressure time.
Aidan O’Brien’s flexible horse racing training approaches
Aidan O’Brien has firmly established himself as the leading trainer in the British Isles and arguably on a global scale in recent seasons. His extraordinary achievement in 2017 marked a turning point, where he shattered the record for the highest number of G1 victories in horse racing.
With just one day remaining for the Hong Kong race, amid the excitement and pressure, he shared his morning routine. Recently, Hong Kong Racing shared a post on Facebook in which he was asked about upcoming race.
He replied, “I’m both confident about racing we’re all in a lot of now like the strangest things can happen“. He conveyed a mix of confidence and humility, acknowledging the unpredictability of racing. He expressed hope for success while acknowledging the volatility of the sport and the need for readiness to adapt to unexpected outcomes.
Also, when asked about his morning routine he hinted at early turn-in for the horses to give them extra time for adaptation, without overloading their minds. According to him, they are “not feeling too much mental stress”. The plan involves having a lead horse that is meant to set an example for the teammates but without burdening them mentally. He refers to a gradual start to the training with easy days initially followed by gradually increasing intensity as the horses get closer to their actual work.
Aidan O’Brien’s holiday approach
Aidan reflects on the facts that there are no rigid principles in the horse’s training since something that was effective with an individual stallion may prove meaningless with another. He concedes that previous victories play a part in the decision, but he emphasizes a flexible policy of changes within training in regard to each horse. He generally states that it could perhaps have served him better this season, though it is an ever-changing affair as far as other horses are concerned.
Furthermore, when he was questioned about his holiday plans, he admitted feeling anxious and stressed when away for too long, finding comfort in working closely with horses and people. He mentioned that extended holidays increase stress for him. If he’s away for more than a week, He starts feeling anxious.
He also had a strange hobby, which he apologised for. He said when he’s not working, he used to watch sporting events. Interestingly, he brought to light how sleep helps to manage fatigue as well as stress, underscoring its pivotal importance for general health.
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