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The country kid who swapped courtrooms for colts

Danny O’Brien’s story began on a 30-acre farm in Kyabram.

‘My father was the local doctor in town, but he was also a hobby horse breeder and trainer,’ Danny shares. Which isn’t surprising, considering his grandfather had been a prominent owner in the 1950s and 60s, with several Group 1 winners to his name.

Despite his roots, Danny didn’t head straight into racing. He moved to Melbourne to study Law and Economics at Monash. But while studying, he worked part time for Bart Cummings. And that changed everything.

‘I was lucky enough to strap horses for him. His was the best stable in the country, and I got to see how it ran up close,’ he remembers.

After graduating, Danny made the call. ‘I decided to work full time with a Caulfield trainer named James Riley. And when I turned 25, I got my own training licence. That was the start of Danny O’Brien Racing.’

The goal was to give it everything – and fast-fail if it didn’t work out. Luckily, it did.

 

 

Building a stable one horse at a time

Starting from scratch isn’t for the faint-hearted. But that’s exactly what Danny did. No partners. No fanfare. And just a couple of horses.

‘Mad Hatter was one of the first,’ Danny says. ‘He won his first four starts, which gave me the confidence to keep going.’

But Danny still needed to earn his stripes.

‘For the first five years, I never had more than 10 or 12 horses. You’ve got to prove yourself before the better-bred horses come your way.’

The persistence paid off. At age 30, Danny trained his first Group 1 winner.

‘That’s when things really opened up. By the time I turned 35, I had about 100 horses in work,’ he shares. ‘But it didn’t happen overnight. It was brick by brick.’

 

 

From Flemington to the world stage

With more wins came a new opportunity: Flemington. Being based at Australia’s most iconic racecourse meant daily exposure to elite company – and elite standards.

‘You’re suddenly working alongside guys like Lee Freedman, and David and Peter Hayes,’ Danny says. ‘You’re watching what they do, and it makes you sharper.’

That experience helped shape Danny’s own approach. Today, he oversees three key training facilities:

• Flemington: ‘It’s full-on, high performance – for the big guns.’
• Geelong: ‘Perfect for younger horses. A bit quieter, great for education.’
• Barwon Heads: ‘Our own property, right on 13^th Beach. We use the beach for recovery work.’

And while he has taken horses overseas – from Dubai to Hong Kong – most of Danny’s work happens right here in Australia.

‘I’d say Melbourne is the best place in the world for racing,’ he maintains.

 

 

The horse that stopped the nation

When Danny O’Brien’s trainee, Vow and Declare, crossed the finish line first in the 2019 Melbourne Cup, it wasn’t just a career milestone. It was a win for the entire Australian racing industry.

For years, the Cup had been dominated by imported horses, with local owners and trainers beginning to wonder if they could still compete on home turf.

‘There were 24 runners that year, and he was the only Australian horse,’ Danny says. ‘With 200 metres to go, it looked like he’d run fourth. But he rallied and put his head in front of the line.’

It came down to a very tight finish. ‘I was standing with my wife and kids. I didn’t even know if we’d won until the number went up. Then the crowd erupted. It was surreal.

‘Before the race, there was this growing feeling that we couldn’t win it anymore – that the internationals had it wrapped up,’ Danny says. ‘But Vow and Declare turned that around. The caller said it best: Vow and Declare does it for Australia!’

So, where is the horse that gave Danny one of his biggest moments today?

He’s still part of the family. ‘Vow and Declare is retired now and lives at our Barwon Heads property. We see him every day.’

 

 

Family, 4 am starts and life outside the gates

Danny met Nina in 2005, at a time when their worlds couldn’t have been more different. She was living in Milan, modelling internationally and soaking up life in Europe.

But their connection was strong enough to rewrite the map.

‘Nina came back to Melbourne not long after we met,’ Danny says. ‘We started a family, and over time, she became part of the business too. There are a lot of moving parts, and Nina’s been by my side through all of it. She’s a huge support.’

Danny’s mornings start early – at around 4 am, to be exact. But the rhythm suits him. ‘The early starts have their drawbacks, but I’m always there when the kids walk in after school. We eat dinner together every night.’

As far as the family legacy goes, their son keeps a casual interest (‘He likes Vow and Declare – that’s about it’). Meanwhile, their daughter knows her way around the stables. ‘She’s quite keen on it, but she’s only 15.

‘This is such a demanding career, I wouldn’t push either of my kids into it.’

 

 

Horse first, always

Danny doesn’t just train racehorses. He cares for them like a team of elite athletes – who also happen to be part of the family. From their health and comfort to their individual quirks, nothing is overlooked.

‘You’ve got to tinker with each horse,’ he says. ‘They’re all different, like people. Some want attention all day, some want to be left alone. You figure out what works for each of them, and you give them what they need.’

The stable is equipped with cutting-edge tech – from heart rate monitors and lactate testing devices to ultrasounds and ice baths – all in service of making the horses feel and perform their best. But for Danny, no data point will ever matter more than the horse itself.

‘They’re immensely well loved. Not just by me, but by everyone who cares for them,’ he says. ‘We do everything we can to make them feel safe, happy and ready.’

Because when a horse feels safe and looked after, it shows.

 

 

A long run with Gary Peer

Danny’s relationship with our very own Co-founder and Director Gary Peer stretches back decades – long before either of them reached their respective peaks.

Over the years, Gary owned shares in several of Danny’s horses. But the relationship evolved and became more personal when it came time to buy property.

‘When we bought our place in Caulfield North, Gary was the one selling it,’ Danny says. ‘I didn’t know the area that well at the time, but he said: This is the best street in the suburb – you won’t regret it. He was right.’

But the most important thing? Their alignment in values. ‘Gary talks a lot about family, community and doing things the right way. That’s exactly how we run our stable.’

The future of Danny O’Brien Racing

After more than two decades in the game, Danny isn’t chasing expansion. He’s focused on refining what he already does best.

‘We’ve got the right facilities, the right footprint. Now it’s about getting the best out of the horses that come through our gates.’

With limited exposure to animal husbandry in Australia, he’s also committed to mentoring young talent. ‘At least half our staff are from overseas – Ireland, France, Japan. We’d love to see more Aussies in the industry, but we know it starts with education and support.’

As for legacy? Danny keeps it simple. ‘Most horses won’t be champions… that’s just the reality. But we want every owner to feel like their horse has had the best possible experience. That we’ve done everything we can. And that the horse is happy, healthy and well looked after.

‘That’s what matters most.’

 

 

Want to learn more – or get involved in racing yourself? Visit the Danny O’Brien Racing website today.