Leopardstown:A famous name got on the scoresheet for the first time at Leopardstown this evening as Joseph O'Brien - son of master trainer Aidan O'Brien - landed the Kilmacud Handicap aboard his father's Johann Zoffany.
Having just his second ride in public - the first having come at the Curragh on Sunday - the 16-year-old gave the well-backed 7-4 favourite a textbook ride as he set out to make virtually every yard.
He had to get fairly serious with his mount as Chebona Bula and Keagan Latham challenged hard, but O’Brien junior was never going to be denied and looked good value for his 10lb claim.
The winning rider - who is in his fifth year at Rockwell College - was led in by his mother Anne-Marie O’Brien, an accomplished rider herself, who was smiling broadly.
A proud O’Brien senior said of his eldest son: “I really appreciate the owners giving him the chance to ride such a nice horse, and the 10lb claim was a big help.
“It’s great to be here to see it, I got an unbelievable kick out of it.
“Joseph has ridden plenty of work, but you can’t beat race experience and everything went well on Sunday.
“His mum was quite a good jockey but I don’t know about his dad!”
Hindu Kush had earlier made all to take the feature race on the card, the Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes under a fine front-running ride from Chris Hayes.
The David Nicholls-trained 7-1 chance had a length to spare over Alandi in a reversal of recent Navan form.
Hayes said of the former O’Brien inmate: “It all went according to plan. I got a freebie out in front and he really enjoyed himself.”