Royal Ascot jockey's comments about Aidan O'Brien say it all about Irish trainer
Royal Ascot rider Sean Levey has lifted the lid on what it's really like working with legendary Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien. The 37-year-old admitted that the handler is every bit as thoughtful and hardworking behind the scenes as people might imagine.
O'Brien, who made a name for himself by dominating the National Hunt scene, was handpicked by the Irish business tycoon John Magnier to take over at Ballydoyle. The revered 55-year-old has since won nearly everything in flat racing and cemented his status as a formidable force in the sport.
His record at the prestigious Royal meeting is outstanding, with his stable consistently sending a strong contingent to Berkshire each year with eyes firmly set on Group 1 success. While Ryan Moore is typically seen steering O'Brien's thoroughbreds, the scale of the operation means other jockeys, including Levey, also get their chances.
Levey's ties with O'Brien go back to his own formative years, cutting his teeth in horse racing while riding out for the Ballydoyle maestro in his early days. He later honed his craft under Richard Hannon in England after an apprenticeship with O'Brien.
At 37, Levey's connection with O'Brien has yielded notable successes, with one standout triumph being aboard Galileo colt Jan Brueghel in the 2024 St. Leger. Speaking about his experience, the jockey shared insights into O'Brien's impactful influence and amicable character with the Irish Mirror.
"I was an apprentice there [at Ballydoyle] for a few years before I moved here [to England]. It had a massive impact," divulged Ladbrokes ambassador Levey.
"Because I obviously served an apprenticeship under him for a good few years. So it was... My initial standpoint was under Aidan, so you'd imagine he had a massive influence on a lot of the things I do now. He's a very, very kind man. The kind of man who does right by everyone.
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"He's also very meticulous. I think his love for the sport kind of shines through in how he presented himself and how he's navigated training a multitude of very, very good horses. I mean, his record kind of speaks for itself, and there's not much I can really add to his CV!"
Throughout his career, Levey has had the honour of riding not only for the Ballydoyle dynasty but also for the Royal blue of the Maktoum family's stable, Godolphin.
Founded in 1992, the international stable employs a select group of British trainers, notably Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor, to lead their operation from HQ.
Levey has donned the iconic silks on occasion and believes that both Ballydoyle and Godolphin's experience and thoroughness have enabled them to maintain their top positions for such a long time.
"I think I've only ever picked up rides for Saeed [bin Suroor]. Been placed in a couple of listed races, and I've won a couple of listed races. I also rode a listed winner for Richard [Hannon] with a two-year-old that he had trained for Godolphin, so I've had the privilege of wearing the blue colours, and having winners in them," Levey added.
"They're a firm that have their team. I've just been lucky on occasion that the opportunity sort of presented itself, and I was put forward. They're a very good team with very good soldiers to boot. Their record kind of speaks for itself.
"Godolphin are... I think they've both been in the game a long, long time. They've been breeding very good horses for a long time, and they don't leave any stone unturned, the same as Aidan doesn't leave any stone unturned, and as a result, they're extremely competitive at the top level."
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