Aidan O'Brien hits record 26th Group One win of year

[mick]

www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/oct/28/aidan-obrien-hits-record-26th-group-one-saxon-warrior-doncaster

"A world record was set by the astonishing Aidan O’Brien as his Saxon Warrior won the Racing Post Trophy here, taking to 26 his tally of Group One victories this year, eclipsing the mark set by the US-based Bobby Frankel in 2003. Simultaneously, O’Brien answered the old question of who he speaks to on the phone in the moments following every major success; it turns out to be his mother, Stella."

"Surrounded by wellwishers after what had seemed an unlikely triumph at the furlong pole, O’Brien lifted his mobile to make the briefest but most important of calls. “Ma. Thanks very much, ma. Thanks, ma. Oh, thanks, ma. We’ll talk to you later.”

This article appeared in The Guardian the week before the Breeders' Cup, before his horses won the Juvenile Turf and Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar. You may have seen him on the phone after the Juvenile Turf win and wondered who he was calling. I did. Now we know. It was his mother.