IT’S only May and already the trophy cabinets of Jessica Harrington and Robbie Power are creaking.
The unstoppable duo were honoured last Sunday night at the Champions Dinner in Newbridge, Co Kildare, hosted by the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association.
The event, formerly a lunch staged after the first Curragh meeting of the year and devoted to flat racing only, is now a black-tie dinner and covers both codes of racing.
Jessie and Robbie were given special recognition awards following an incredible run of success since February which has included three Gold Cups, two Cheltenham Festival handicaps and an Irish Grand National.
Although she saddled a Leopardstown double earlier in the day, Jessie played down her continuing success on the flat as “a flash in the pan” and preferred to talk about Sizing John who will be aimed at the £1 million bonus on offer for the winner of the Betfair Chase, King George and Gold Cup.
Fresh from his Newmarket Guineas double, Aidan O’Brien was the first of 12 award recipients on the night – his champion flat trainer award acknowledging his superiority in terms of both winners and prize money last season.
However, there were two National Hunt trainer awards – Willie Mullins crowned champion on prize money but Gordon Elliott was also called to stage to collect the leading trainer award by virtue of his 193 winners.
Looking back on what was a rollercoaster of a campaign for his team, Willie said: “It was tough but we just got the bounce of the ball in the end. Things didn’t go right for us all season but the staff kept the whole thing going.
“It was a shame there had to be a loser – Gordon and his team put their heart and soul into it, and so did we.”
Gordon replied: “It was heartbreaking to be caught in the end but just to be on the stage here with Willie, probably the greatest jumps trainer of all-time, is amazing. Hopefully we will make him fight for it over the next few seasons.”
DON’T CHANGE
Ruby Walsh echoed Willie’s comments when presented with his 12th champion jump jockey trophy. Asked how he coped with reversals such as those he endured on the first two days of Cheltenham, Ruby said: “That’s sport. It’s when they get beat that the people around you come into play, people like Willie who believe in me. They told me to keep doing the same thing, don’t change.”
Pat Smullen picked up two awards -- his ninth flat jockeys’ title and he shared the winter series top jockey award with Colin Keane. Pat saluted the efforts of trainer Dermot Weld and his staff in getting Harzand to the Irish Derby just three weeks after his Epsom triumph. “The horse was very sore after Epsom and when I saw him come off the horsebox I said to [wife] Frances ‘He won’t be running in the Irish Derby’.”
The winter series trainers’ title was shared between Michael Halford and Joseph O’Brien.
With 43 wins, Donnacha O’Brien was a wide-margin winner of the apprentice title last season. Almost as tall as elder brother Joseph now, Donnacha told Dessie he hoped to “get two or three more years out of it” and he didn’t disagree when Dessie suggested that Ana O’Brien could take his title this year.
Rachael Blackmore received a great reception when hailed as champion conditional jump jockey. The first woman to win the title, Rachael thanked all the owners and trainers who had supported her, especially Shark Hanlon and Ellmarie Holden.
“A savage year” was how Jamie Codd described his season which saw him win his first amateur title and dethrone Patrick Mullins. “Patrick is a gentleman and I started off in Willie’s, so I know them a long time and it’s just a relief to get over the line.”
Despite taking a break from racing last November, Nina Carberry still won the leading lady rider award (20 winners) and she looked exceptionally well as she casually remarked on stage that her first baby was due “today or tomorrow”.
not The Sunday Game
GAA pundit and former Meath football star Colm O’Rourke was the after-dinner speaker and immediately had everyone laughing when he said he only went racing to keep Jim Bolger away from the booze.
Colm revealed his love for racing was born when he backed 1971 Grand National winner Specify. He has had several shares in horses over the years and goes racing when it doesn’t clash with his GAA commitments or his job as principal of St Patrick’s College in Navan where 900 boys are enrolled.
After teasing fellow “big thick Meath man” Noel Meade and slagging off Kildare football, Colm brought up two issues which he would love to see addressed. He believes there is too much Sunday racing and he would also like to see 48-hour declarations for all races.
Dessie does his best
Dessie Scahill was MC for the night and he did his bit for IRTA chairman Noel Meade when interviewing Eddie O’Leary of Gigginstown House Stud. After Eddie had collected the champion NH owner award, Dessie repeatedly suggested that Gigginstown should send Noel a truckload of horses following the trainer’s achievements with Disko and Road To Respect. Eddie laughed it off as Dessie looked over to Noel and said: “Sorry, there’s nothing doing here!”
Special trophies
The trophies presented on the night were created by Dublin sculptor Paul Ferriter, who was in the news recently for his bronze sculpture of A.P. McCoy which was unveiled at the Cheltenham Festival.
Award Winners
Champion Flat Trainer 2016: AIDAN O’BRIEN
Champion National Hunt Trainer: WILLIE MULLINS
Leading National Hunt Trainer: GORDON ELLIOTT
Champion Flat Jockey 2016: PAT SMULLEN
Champion National Hunt Jockey: RUBY WALSH
Leading Flat Owner 2016: SUE MAGNIER
Leading National Hunt Owner: GIGGINSTOWN HOUSE STUD
Champion Apprentice 2016: DONNACHA O’BRIEN
Champion Conditional Rider: RACHAEL BLACKMORE
Champion Amateur Rider: JAMIE CODD
Champion Lady Amateur Rider: NINA CARBERRY
Champion Trainer Winter Series 2016-’17: MICHAEL HALFORD & JOSEPH O’BRIEN
Champion Jockey Winter Series 2016-’17: COLIN KEANE & PAT SMULLEN
Special Achievement: JESSICA HARRINGTON & ROBBIE POWER