Joseph O'Brien is making horse racing attractive again.
The Melbourne Cup winning trainer has enjoyed a wonderfully successful 2017.
He saddled 102 winners across flat racing and National Hunt in Ireland during the year.
His prize money for the year was bordering on €2 million. He's surpassed distinguished trainers Noel Meade, Jessica Harrington and Henry De Bromhead on the National Hunt listings, and the likes of Jim Bolger, Willie McCreary and Michael Halford on the flat.
Joseph O'Brien is a gentleman. He's softly spoken and widely respected. In recent weeks, he's been active on Twitter, posting videos of his horses and scenic pictures of his gallops in Ownings, Piltown, Kilkenny.
On Wednesday night O'Brien asked the people of Twitter to help him put a name on his well-bred filly by Presenting on Wednesday evening.
It's mad how a horse's name brings them to life. Take Arkle - Arkle was one of the best national hunt horses to ever jump a fence, and now, now Arkle isn't just the horse's name. It's a word that we associate with horses. One of the biggest races in the Cheltenham festival is called "The Arkle Chase"
Some horses are remembered for their names, not for their success. An Australian horse called "Horsey McHorseface" galloped to victory in a race in Cessnock last year. That didn't come to global attention because he won.
Dangerousdanmagru is a former Irish national hunt horse best remembered for his colourful name.
https://twitter.com/JosephOBrien2/status/950807898157875201
Rigour Back Bob was always a tester for commentators, but it sounds so good when perfectly pronounced.
https://twitter.com/JosephOBrien2/status/948874944116592642
Many horse's names derive from their breeding details, and that's why O'Brien attached all of the horse's information on this front.
https://twitter.com/JosephOBrien2/status/951170818343612416
The tweet took off on social media, with more than 500 replies in one hour.
We've picked some of the best names so far (In our opinion)
'Mans not trot' would be a big hit with BigShaq fans.
https://twitter.com/samwilkinson3/status/951173664900374529
Logic and wit. 'Misrepresenting' isn't a bad effort.
https://twitter.com/apeers85/status/951182085938712576
It sounds so right, does 'Sundance Queen'
https://twitter.com/blackie116/status/951183128181313536
Goes well with the name of her third dam. 'Beautiful Gesture.'
https://twitter.com/lilacacres/status/951184459973369856
Keeping it Irish.
https://twitter.com/lilacacres/status/951184459973369856
What would your suggestion be?
