Jonjo O'Neill(credit:
Official Website)
When Supreme Quest won the extended three-mile novices' handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter on April 1 2002, Jonjo O'Neill achieved the distinction of becoming the first person to win 100 races in a British season as a jockey and a trainer.
Jonjo has held a dual-purpose licence since 1986 having renovated a run-down farm in Penrith. He succeeded in sending out plenty of winners under both codes - including Royal Ascot two-year-old winner Gypsy Fiddler in the Windsor Castle Stakes. Having purchased Jackdaws Castle in 2001, J. P. McManus agreed to let Jonjo rent the magnificent training establishment set amid the Cotswold hills from June 2001.
Many of his owners stayed with him and all his staff uprooted to begin an exciting new chapter in their careers - loyalty which says more about Jonjo than any statistic ever could.
The team's first runner from their new Gloucestershire base came 28 days later in a three-mile novice chase at Stratford. Gladly, it was a winner and he has never looked back.
In his first full season at Jackdaws Castle, Jonjo propelled himself into fourth place in the trainers' championship and sent out 114 winners for the first time, where highlights included four winners at Aintree's Grand National meeting. Securing his postion as one of the top race horse trainers.
In 2002/03, his runners earned well over £1.5 million in total prize money for his owners. There were three Cheltenham Festival winners - Sudden Shock (National Hunt Chase), Spectroscope (Triumph Hurdle) and Inching Closer (Pertemps Hurdle) - Mini Sensation won the Welsh National, there were four more winners at the Aintree Festival meeting and Quazar landed the Irish Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
In the 2006/7 season Jonjo sent out 126 winners, his runners earned well over £1,900,196.00 in prize money for his owners.
Jonjo's official website is here.