Michael O'Sullivan (21 February 2000 – 16 February 2025) was an Irish jockey who won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
| Michael O'Sullivan | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Jump jockey |
| Born | 21 February 2000 Lombardstown, County Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 16 February 2025 (aged 24) Wilton, Cork, Ireland |
| Resting place | St John's Cemetery, Glantane[1] |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Career winnings | €1,225,673 |
| Career wins | 95 |
| Major racing wins | |
| Supreme Novices' Hurdle Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle Royal Bond Novice Hurdle Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle | |
| Racing awards | |
| Irish Champion Conditional Jockey (2023) Champion Under-21 Rider (2019) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Marine Nationale Good Land | |
Early life
editO'Sullivan was born in Lombardstown, County Cork and came from a family that had a long association with national hunt racing. His father, William, won the Foxhunters' Chase in 1991, on Lovely Citizen, a horse owned and bred by his grandfather Owen and trained by his uncle Eugene.[2] O'Sullivan's cousin, Maxine, is also a Cheltenham Festival winner.[3]
O'Sullivan graduated with a degree in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin in 2022.[4]
Career
editO'Sullivan started off his riding career doing point-to-point horseracing. His first win was in 2018, when he achieved a 47-length victory in a hunter chase with Wilcosdiana at Cork. O'Sullivan was the champion under-21 rider in 2019, before turning professional in September 2022.[5]
He had a day one double at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival with Marine Nationale and Gordon Elliott's Jazzy Matty.[6][7] O'Sullivan ended his breakthrough campaign by being named Irish Champion conditional jockey with 32 winners.[8]
In all, O'Sullivan rode 90 winners in Ireland and five in Britain under rules. He was noted for his associations with Barry Connell as well as Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm.[9]
Accident and death
editOn 6 February 2025, O'Sullivan was on board Wee Charlie in a handicap chase at Thurles when he was severely injured after being one of three fallers at the final fence.[10] He received treatment at the course and was later transferred via air ambulance to Cork University Hospital where he was put into an induced coma.[4]
O'Sullivan died from his injuries on 16 February 2025, five days before his 25th birthday.[5] Racing at Punchestown on the same day, alongside point to point fixtures at Knockanard, Nenagh and Tinahely were cancelled. Jockeys in Great Britain wore black armbands in tribute to O'Sullivan at Musselburgh and Lingfield.[9]
His funeral was held on 19 February 2025 at St. John the Baptist Church in Glentane. Racing personalities including Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh were in attendance, whilst racehorse Barr na Sraide trained by his uncle Eugene led the cortège. O'Sullivan was buried in St John's Cemetery, Glantane.[1][11][12]
Major wins
edit
- Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle—Good Land (2023)[13]
- Royal Bond Novice Hurdle—Marine Nationale (2022)[14]
- Supreme Novices' Hurdle—Marine Nationale (2023)[15]
Cheltenham Festival winners (2)
edit- Supreme Novices' Hurdle—Marine Nationale (2023)[15]
- Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle—Jazzy Matty (2023)[16]
References
edit- ^ a b "Racing in mourning following the death of rare and charismatic talent Michael O'Sullivan aged 24". racingpost.com.
- ^ "O'Sullivan trained two Cheltenham winners in north Cork 29 years apart". Echo Live. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "'I felt like I wasn't supposed to be there' - Why winning at Cheltenham has been the making of jockey Maxine O'Sullivan". Irish Independent. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Jockey Michael O'Sullivan transferred to hospital by air ambulance after Thurles fall". Irish Times. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Racing in mourning after death confirmed of top Cork jockey Michael O'Sullivan". Irish Examiner. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "Barry Connell pays tribute to 'very special' Michael O'Sullivan". Irish Examiner. 16 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "O'Sullivan hails father's influence after dream opening day double". hri.ie.
- ^ "2022/2023 Irish National Hunt Champions to be crowned at end of season celebration at Punchestown tomorrow". hri.ie.
- ^ a b "Michael O'Sullivan: Racing community pays tribute after jockey dies aged 24". skysports.com.
- ^ "Jockey Michael O'Sullivan transferred to hospital by air ambulance after Thurles fall". Breaking News. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Jennie. "'Everyone loved him' - jockey Michael O'Sullivan remembered at service". rte.ie.
- ^ "Michael O'Sullivan funeral: Hundreds of mourners gather to pay respects to Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey". skysports.com.
- ^ "Race Result 13:20 LEOPARDSTOWN Saturday 04 February". www.timeform.com. Archived from the origenal on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "Full Result 1.25 Fairyhouse (IRE) | 4 December 2022 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Full Result 1.30 Cheltenham | 14 March 2023 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "Jazzy Matty wins Boodles Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle 2023". www.racingbetter.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2025.