A SECOND Aintree Grand National success for Tiger Roll, and a place in racing history, was enough to secure his breeder Jerry O’Brien the coveted Connolly’s Red Mills/The Irish Field Breeder of the Year award at a ceremony in the Hanged Man’s Restaurant, Milltown, Co Kildare on Monday night.

Also on hand to receive the flat equivalent were Aidan and Annemarie O’Brien, breeders of the now dual Group 1 winner Iridessa who is trained by their son Joseph. All 12 monthly winners gathered for the 14th edition of the awards, held before a select group of industry representatives. Co-hosts Leo Powell from The Irish Field and Joe Connolly from Red Mills paid tribute to the winners.

Powell told the group that “one of the special aspects of the list of winners is that you are chosen, on a monthly basis, by your peers. The public vote, and it is they who have chosen all of you as winners. In my view this makes it extra special.” Connolly added that “breeders produce the raw material and it is a privilege to be able to honour their successes.”

Announcing Aidan and Annemarie O’Brien as the winners of the overall flat award, Powell told the guests that “The new name on the list this year will come as no surprise, but the recipients are most deserving of the accolade. Since they bred their first superstar exactly 20 years ago from an IR£11,000 cast-off from Moyglare Stud, they have produced a host of top-class horses. That first star was the seven-time Group 1 winner Rock Of Gibraltar, and their latest is the dual Group 1 winning filly Iridessa.”

Jerry O’Brien was a hugely popular recipient of the overall award in the National Hunt category, one of many accolades he has received following Tiger Roll’s achievements. With a number of possible winners, Powell kept the audience in suspense, saying: “This goes to the breeder of a horse who is a racing star, a horse who has captured imaginations, and a horse who has a huge following. It is not too often that a horse’s name will be instantly recognisable, but this is a case in point. He is the horse of a lifetime and he has earned his breeder the National Hunt Breeder of the Year title. It is for Tiger Roll’s breeder Jerry O’Brien.”

The final monthly winner in last year’s competition was Phoenix Of Spain, the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner. The colt was bred by the late Cherry Faeste and her husband Arild, and this recognition was bittersweet. The couple’s daughter Nina Casey was on hand to accept the award, while among the guests were the Irish National Stud’s chairman and CEO, Matt Dempsey and Cathal Beale.

Niamh Connolly with Nina Casey, daughter of the breeders of Phoenix Of Spain

Two previous Breeder of the Year award winners were among this year’s monthly recipients. Diane Nagle stepped forward to take the award for Kew Gardens, and she and her husband David won the inaugural overall award in 2006. Altior’s breeder Paddy Behan, accompanied on the night by his wife Rose, won the overall National Hunt trophy in 2017 and this time he was taking an award for an unprecedented fourth year in succession.

Andrew Magnier accepted the award for Latrobe, minutes before his aunt Anne O’Callaghan did the same for Fairyland. Award winners travelled from all corners of Ireland, and included Crossogue Equestrian’s Mark Molloy, breeder with Mark Fleming of Galop Marin, David and Mary Ryan from Elton Lodge Stud, Oliver and Ann Loughlin who bred Quick Grabim, and Sir Erec’s breeder Pat Tobin. Sunnyhill Stud’s Doyen sired Battleoverdoyen and stud owner Michael Hickey was on hand to congratulate the gelding’s breeders Colin and Caroline Berry.

Joe Connolly was accompanied on the night by his wife Niamh, son Gareth and a number of team members, while Brendan McArdle and Anne Marie Duff also represented The Irish Field.