Cork native Mikey O’Connor joined an elite list when recording his 400th point-to-point winner aboard the Terence Leonard trained Lily Of Dromard in division two of the Hunting Horn at Castlefield five-year-old and upwards mares maiden at Grennan.
It was an incident packed contest but O’Connor set very quick fractions aboard the daughter of Urban Poet and despite the runner-up Bonny Dazzler passing her at one point, the Cork native made sure she wasn’t going to be denied.
He is the seventh jockey to complete this feat and joins the likes Willie Rooney, Enda Bolger, Barry O’Neill, John Thomas McNamara, Jamie Codd and Derek O’Connor.
O’Connor partnered his first winner between the flags in February 1999 aboard Glitter Girl at Kilworth.
Since then, Mikey O’Connor was crowned Southern Champion on three occasions, 2008, 2009 and 2013.
He finished third on three occasions in the Leading Riders table behind Derek O’Connor and Jamie Codd. His best season to date was in 2007-08 when he partnered 56 winners.
O’Connor has been associated with many good horses over the years including in the likes of Michael Winters' talented mare For Bill who he partnered on five of her 11 career wins and top track performer Rebel Fitz.
Other horses he has been associated with over the years includes; Just Cassandra, Realt Dubh, Rule Supreme, Mickey Blue Eyes, Theatre Princess and Benefficient.
His biggest supporters over the years include Michael Winters who he partnered over 50 winners for, Gerry Cully, Liam Burke, John O’Shaughnessy and James Sheehan to name a few.
