Members of the racing neighborhood have paid tribute to Michael O’Sullivan following his tragic loss of life on the age of 24.
The jockey, extensively thought to be one of many greatest abilities within the Irish weighing room, succumbed to accidents sustained in a last-fence fall at Thurles on February 6 within the early hours of Sunday February 16.
Throughout his profession, O’Sullivan loved three Grade One successes, together with aboard Marine Nationale within the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the Cheltenham Pageant. He had profitable associations with Barry Connell in addition to the Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm mixture, whereas additionally using for Willie Mullins in his native Eire.
Connell acknowledged: “He was a shiny, rising star as a jockey and we had been fortunate to have had a really shut affiliation with him.
“All people within the yard is devastated. He was such a stunning character to have across the place, he fitted in rather well. He was extensively favored by his colleagues and everybody who met him.”
Tributes have poured in from far and extensive throughout the racing neighborhood, together with from a few of O’Sullivan’s weighing-room colleagues on either side of the Irish Sea.
On X, British champion jockey Harry Cobden posted: “Completely devastating information about Michael O’Sullivan. Sending my deepest condolences to his household and buddies.”
Talking on Sky Sports activities Racing, two-time Irish champion jockey Barry Geraghty mentioned: “[He was] beautiful, variety, caring and humble. His expertise was apparent – everybody might see that – however [he was] such particular person behind the scenes. A extremely sturdy member of the weighing room [who was] liked and adored by everybody.”
Harry Skelton joined within the tributes on social media, writing: “Completely devastating information to listen to Michael O’Sullivan has handed away. My ideas are together with his household, buddies. While you undergo that door to race you all wish to come again in it collectively, his peg now sits empty for all of the unsuitable causes, pondering of all of the Irish weighing room.”
Equally, AP McCoy shared: “Completely devastated to listen to the unhappy information of Michael O’Sullivan’s passing. A devoted and really gifted younger man taken far too younger. Sending my deepest condolences to his household and buddies at this heartbreaking time.”
O’Sullivan additionally left a long-lasting impression on trainers, together with Mullins, who mentioned: “It is dreadful information which places all our issues into context. He might be a lot missed right here and there’s a actual unhappiness over the entire of Closutton as we speak.
“He was right here two mornings every week and was very a lot part of the workforce at Closutton and his half right here was solely going to get greater. He was such a pure rider who was very modest, pleasant and understated. He had a fantastic understanding of horses and racing and given the horse, he was the person.
“I believe Closutton might be a a lot poorer place with out him and we, as a household, will miss him. He might be a lot missed within the yard and we’ve his household in our ideas and our prayers are for them now.”
Paul Nicholls took to X to supply his condolences, posting: “Everybody right here in Ditcheat is heartbroken on the horrible information of Michael O’Sullivan. Our ideas and prayers are with all his household, buddies and colleagues on this extremely unhappy time. RIP.”
Gordon Elliott echoed these sentiments, writing: “Sending our deepest condolences to the household, buddies and colleagues of Michael O’Sullivan. Relaxation in peace.”
Ted Walsh described the late rider as a “standout younger man” who was “a credit score to his mother and father”.
Members of the media have additionally expressed their condolences. On X, Matt Chapman posted: “Simply such unhappy information as we speak over Michael O’Sullivan and everybody pondering of him and his household and buddies. An enormous thanks for being you, and for exhibiting us and sharing with us your expertise.”
Commentator and pundit Richard Hoiles mentioned: “He was clearly far more than a jockey. [He was] clever, by way of out of the saddle as effectively – he would have had a lot extra to supply lengthy after his using profession had completed. It’s simply that super shock that the entire side of individuals’s lives near Michael had been modified immediately accident. It’s totally, very unhappy certainly.”
Nationwide Hunt racing at Punchestown was cancelled on Sunday in O’Sullivan’s honour, with point-to-point fixtures at Knockanard, Nenagh and Tinahely additionally known as off. In Britain, jockeys wore black armbands to honour O’Sullivan at Musselburgh and Lingfield.
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