Aidan O’Brien has axed long-time ally and trusted jockey Seamie Heffernan ahead of new Flat season

AIDAN O’BRIEN has shockingly split with his long-time ally and trusted jockey Seamie Heffernan.

The Classic-winning rider has been a key part of the all-conquering team at Ballydoyle since 1996.

Seamie Heffernan – here aboard Capri after winning the Irish Derby – has split from Aidan O’BrienSportsfile - Subscription

He started his career with Jim Bolger before making the switch to County Tipperary to ride as second jockey to Christy Roche.

And he has had to play second fiddle to a host of high-profile names over the years, including Ryan Moore and Johnny Murtagh.

But Heffernan, 51, still rode dozens of big winners around the world for his former boss, including victory in the most prestigious race of all in the 2019 Derby aboard Anthony Van Dyck.

In his long and successful association with Ballydoyle, he bagged 13 British and Irish Classics and memorably gave Highland Reel a bold front-running ride to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf eight years ago.

It is unclear why O’Brien has severed ties with Heffernan, who was notably not part of the team of riders who put some of the yard’s star names through their paces in a workout at Dundalk last month.

And he is booked to ride for four different yards at the Curragh on Monday as the Irish Flat season gets underway.

He was one of O’Brien’s most trusted lieutenants for nearly three decades but he will now ride as a freelance in 2024.

His agent, Ruaidhri Tierny, said: “Seamie doesn’t want to comment, he is just keen to get his head down and crack on.”

Ryan Moore remains the top dog at Ballydoyle heading into the new Flat season, but the shake-up in riding arrangements will undoubtedly open the door for someone else.

Sun Racing revealed earlier this month that Oisin Murphy has been riding out at Ballydoyle this winter and could be a potential beneficiary if spare rides come up. 

So long as it doesn’t clash with his job for leading British trainer Andrew Balding and his retainer Qatar Racing.

O’Brien has plenty to look forward to this summer, with last year’s champion two-year-old City Of Troy the red-hot favourite for both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.

And his star older horse, Auguste Rodin, will make his seasonal reappearance in the Sheema Classic in Dubai later this month.

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