Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle: Youth and Confidence

Jockey and trainer to team up with Galen in the Neom Turf Cup and the mare Goodie Two Shoes in the Red Sea Turf Handicap

Dylan Browne McMonagle aims for another major victory, now in Riyadh / JCSA

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Special for Turf Diario).— Youth, talent, and international ambition combine in a partnership that has moved past the "prospect" stage to become a formidable reality. Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle will join forces in the two major turf events on the Saudi Cup undercard this Saturday, February 14, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, with concrete aspirations of playing a leading role.

O’Brien is just 32 years old, a former champion jockey turned elite trainer and winner of multiple G1s across various latitudes. Ten years his junior is Browne McMonagle, who in 2025 was crowned Champion Jockey of Ireland for the first time and already moves with ease within the top tier of world racing. Together, they form a powerhouse duo with a proven track record both at home and on the world’s biggest stages.

For the big night in Riyadh, O’Brien has assembled a high-caliber squad. The flagship will be Galen (Gleneagles), who will contest the Neom Turf Cup (G1), while three other stable representatives will target the demanding Red Sea Turf Handicap (G2), both high-profile engagements within the festival.

“These are races we’ve been targeting for a while. It’s world-class international racing, very competitive events with extraordinary prize money,” explained O’Brien, who is once again betting big in Saudi Arabia.

The association with Browne McMonagle has already yielded significant fruit. O’Brien has saddled G1 winners in six countries, while his star rider has already tasted top-level success in four major racing nations, including his memorable performance with Willie Mullins in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), where he triumphed aboard Ethical Diamond (Awtaad).

Browne McMonagle will arrive in Riyadh directly from Hong Kong, where he has been racking up wins and consolidating his name on the international circuit. After participating in the International Jockeys’ Challenge, he will be tasked with piloting Galen in the Neom Turf Cup—a race of additional historical value as it marks the first G1 turf event ever held in Saudi Arabia, boasting a $3-million purse.

For the duo, winning there would mean writing a special chapter. O’Brien is no stranger to these races: in 2024 he sent out Al Riffa (Dubawi), who finished behind Shin Emperor (Siyouni) in the Neom Turf Cup, and in 2022 he brought Baron Samedi (Harbour Watch) to a fourth-place finish in the Red Sea Turf Handicap.

This time, the main hope in the 3,000-meter Red Sea will be Goodie Two Shoes (Fastnet Rock), runner-up in the Melbourne Cup (G1), who came agonizingly close to giving O’Brien a historic third victory in the great Australian race. The mare will lead a trio that also includes G3 winner Sons And Lovers (Study of Man) and Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett), who finished third in the Epsom Derby (G1), reaffirming the depth of the Irish team.

“We are very excited. Dylan will fly in to ride in the International Jockeys’ Challenge on Friday and then will partner Galen in the Neom Turf Cup and Goodie Two Shoes in the Red Sea Handicap on Saturday,” O’Brien confirmed.

“James Doyle will ride Sons And Lovers and Ryan Moore will be on Tennessee Stud. All four horses have had very good preparations with this trip and these races in mind, so we are looking forward to seeing them in action.”

With a young duo seasoned in major battles, proven horses, and well-defined goals, Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle will look to leave their mark in Riyadh on a night that promises to be historic for Saudi Arabian turf racing.