Phonsie O’Brien, brother of the late legendary Vincent, has passed away at his home, Kilsheelan, in Tipperary, aged 86.

He deserved a book, fishing with President Bush, Chinese Cook, all round raconteur, and advisor to the team that included Robert Sangster, his brother Vincent, Charlie Benson, Bill McDonald, and those that sought his advice.

Patrick Robinson and Nick Robinson wrote Horsetrader, about the exploits of buying expensive yearlings out of Kentucky, when a yearling colt set the bloodstock world abuzz selling for $13.1 million.

Horsetrader is a fascinating read, it proved a best seller, it portrays Robert Sangster as quite a sentimental person, he believed he owed so much to Audrey Joan when she beat the colts, Close Call and Forlorn River, on a sunny afternoon at York.

When Robert got involved with Colin Hayes, he had Audrey Joan flown out to Lindsay Park, on his regular visits to the stud he never missed patting her, and she didn’t mind either.

It was a golden era with Nijinsky, The Minstrel, Storm Bird, Golden Fleece, Caerleon, Lomond , Royal Academy, and so many others.

An era that could never be repeated, so much has changed over all those years.