Two companies owned by one of Ireland’s most successful racehorse trainers, Aidan O’Brien, found the course relatively easy going during the year ending January 31st, 2015, with both of them romping home with increased profits.
Whisperview Trading Limited, a racehorse training and bloodstock firm owned by the Ballydoyle stable trainer and his wife Anne Marie O'Brien, saw accumulated profits rise to €6.6 million for the 12 months under review, as against €5.9 million a year earlier.
Recently-filed accounts show the company’s cash jumped from €234,609 to €635,589 over the year.
A second firm owned by Mr O’Brien, who set a new record of 10 Irish-trained winners at this year’s Royal Ascot, also featured in the winners’ enclosure.
Flymount Trading Limited reported accumulated profits of €3.6 million, compared to €2.6 million in the preceding year.
However, a third firm owned by the O'Brien's – Dougcastle Investments – fell at the final hurdle, reporting accumulated profits of €718,067, down from €1.7 million a year earlier.
Mr O’Brien is on track to land the cross-channel trainers title for the first time since 2008 this year, having previously won it in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
The trainer has secured more than €3 million in prizemoney so far this year in Ireland and more than £4.9 million (€5.6 million) in Britain, more than twice that of his nearest rival, John Gosden.