Bred in Crecora, Co Limerick by Pat Gore out of the Kings Master mare Jockeyhall Touch Of Class, the Emperor Augustus bay took the title ahead of Dessie Gibson’s Glountane Premier who had earlier finished second to the champion in the lightweight class. Both horses had been purchased as foals on the same day at Goresbridge in 2011. However, while Gibson’s Hold Up Premier bay had gone on to win the yearling championship at Balmoral the following May, Classic Choice was making his showing debut on Wednesday.

The champion filly was Rebecca Monahan’s two-year-old Notalot (by Lancelot), reserve distaff champion at the RDS last August, who was followed forward by Derry Rothwell’s Greenhall Wishing Well. The latter, a three-year-old bay by Crosstown Dancer, won the exhibitor-bred championship for the Co Wicklow breeder who had earlier landed the broodmare crown with his Limmerick six-year-old, Greenhall Indicator.