I've been down but I'm still out to rock Ascot, says Carl O'Callaghan

The US trainer has slept rough on the streets of New York, plays guitar — and brilliantly too — and trains the speedy Kinsale King on a diet that includes eggs and Guinness.

And it seems to work. Kinsale King has won his last four races, including the $2million Dubai Golden Shaheen in March.

"We put two eggs in his feed and he drinks two pints of Guinness in the morning and two at night. He loves it," said O'Callaghan, who is preparing the colt for tomorrow's Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Even if the former Eoin Harty-trained inmate does not land the £450,000 six-furlong event tomorrow, the 34-year-old will not be fretting.

For O'Callaghan realised a while ago that the Guinness slogan is right: Not everything in black and white makes sense.

He explained: "I was breaking yearlings on a farm in upstate New York but became disillusioned and depressed and ended up living for two weeks on the streets with just my guitar and two dogs, who were both starving.

"I didn't understand what was going on in my life, why I was depressed or where I was. I just woke up one day and thought to hell with it' and went back to Belmont Park.

"Life is never easy but I stayed confident," he said. "I am true to myself and true to my horses, and that is all I can ask for. If I can send a message to someone who learns from me, then I am happy." Life is about choices. If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another option.

Offered the chance to assist John Kimmel, he spent seven years with the New York trainer and served a similar stint with Todd Pletcher before moving to California in 2005.

Now based at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita, O'Callaghan has seen his stable numbers swell to almost 50, which doesn't seem to hamper his strumming sideline. He has made four CDs, with all money raised going to children's cancer charities, and regularly performs in public.

O'Callaghan is hopeful his five-year-old, who will be partnered by Kieren Fallon, can rock the world again tomorrow by earning his first victory on grass. Challengers from as far afield as Hong Kong, Australia and France make up the 24 runners in the Golden Jubilee and Kinsale King does not appear to have a bad draw in stall nine.

"He likes to be up close to the pace – I just hope someone can lay with him to keep him happy and then he can kick on home," said O'Callaghan. "He has got a lot of heart but it'll be tough."

Take his word for it. If ever a man knows the meaning of the word tough', it's Carl O'Callaghan.