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Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
“title =” Aidan O’Brien: “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet a man like him” “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https: //www.rp -assets. com / images / news / 2020/08/04/81341-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/08/04/ 81341-medium .jpeg “data-br-m =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020/08/04/81341-large.jpeg “data-br-w =” https: // www .rp-assets.com / images / news / 2020/08/04/81341-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2020 / 08 / 04/81341-large.jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>
By Brian Sheerin
Aidan O’Brien has expressed sentiments that have resonated with the international racing community in recent days by describing Pat Smullen as “irreplaceable”.
The nine-time champion jockey, O’Brien’s brother-in-law, died at St Vincent Hospital in Dublin on Tuesday night after his battle with pancreatic cancer. He is scheduled to be interred Friday near his home in Rhode in County Offaly after a private funeral mass at 2 p.m. at Church of San Pedro in the village.
Covid-19 restrictions mean no more than 50 mourners are allowed to attend funerals in Ireland, but it will be broadcast in Zoom.
Smullen’s wife, Frances Crowley, the former Classic winning coach, is the sister of O’Brien’s wife, Annemarie, still the only woman to be crowned champion coach in Ireland.
“He was an incredible man, an irreplaceable person,” O’Brien said of Smullen. “Pat had it all. He was a brilliant rider, a great rider, but an incredibly sincere and decent man. Incredibly genuine.”
Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
“title =” O’Brien described Smullen as “a brilliant rider, a great rider, but an incredibly sincere and decent man.” “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https: //www.rp- assets.com/images/news/2019/05/12/61516-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/05/12/61516 -medium.jpeg “data-br-m =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news /2019/05/12/61516-large.jpeg “data-br-w =” https: / /www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/05/12/61516-large.jpeg “data- br-xw = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/ 12/05/61516-large.jpeg” onclick = “return false; “>
O’Brien added: “He took care of everyone and everything he said to someone was always for his own benefit so that they were better. There was never any angle with Pat, it was always what he believed was the right thing to do.”
Smullen became Dermot Weld’s stable rider when Mick Kinane moved in to ride for O’Brien and Coolmore in 1999.
While he spent most of his brilliant career riding Ballydoyle horses, the master trainer hailed Smullen as a world-class rider, highlighting his professionalism as his main strength.
O’Brien said: “He was a world-class racer, a professional in every way. Pat gave everything every day. That’s the way he did everything in life. He gave everything to his job, his driving, his friends, his family. Nothing was ever saved. It was a total commitment. He is irreplaceable and we will all miss him. “
He added: “Pat always wanted to help the people who came after him, to fund new tests and trials. It was all to help the generations that come after him. He gave 100 percent. It was such good people to whom most of us wouldn’t know anything.
“He did things for people, advised them and helped them, whether in or outside of racing. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet a man like him.”
For those who would like to watch Smullen’s funeral on Zoom, the meeting ID is 6949803979. The passcode required to access the broadcast is 12345.
Those who wish to pay their respects to the Smullen family can do so via an online condolence book at RIP.ie at the following link: https://rip.ie/cb.php?dn=433739.
FIRST POST 2:08 PM, SEP 17 2020
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