CORACH RAMBLER’S AINTREE SUCCESS HAILED AS MAGIC MOMENT OF 2023 AT THE NORTHERN RACING AWARDS
On Friday 1st December, the northern racing community came together to celebrate the many successes of the region this year at the ROA Northern Racing Awards. The black-tie event, hosted and organised by Racing Welfare at Newcastle racecourse, culminated with Corach Rambler’s famous Grand National win being recognised as Northern racing’s Magic Moment of the year for Lucinda Russell, owners ‘The Ramblers’ and jockey Derek Fox, who also scooped the Professional Jumps Ride of the Year Award.
Following a stellar year on the track, dual Group 1 winning sprinter Shaquille – now retired to Dullingham Park Stud – was chosen by the judges as the winner for two categories, earning Julie Camacho the Best Training Performance of the Year (Flat) Award and Special Achievement of the Season Award (Flat) for his owners. Both related to his brilliant July Cup win at Newmarket, with the Group 1 victory topping off a remarkable run of six races unbeaten.
The Karl Burke trained winner of the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot in October, Poptronic, was named as the Stud Success Story of the Year for owners Yvonne and David Blunt. That success story continued for the pair as Poptronic went on to sell for 1,400,000gns at Tattersalls this week.
Another notable winner on the night was Sean Kirrane, who partnered Live In The Dream to victory in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. The young jockey’s first Group 1 winning ride was adjudged to be the Apprentice Flat Ride of The Season.
Dawn Goodfellow, Chief Executive of Racing Welfare said: “The North is home to some of our country’s standout training establishments and racecourses and the importance of racing in the region cannot be underestimated. It consistently serves up some of the highlights of our sport every year and 2023 has certainly delivered some truly unforgettable moments.
“It was an honour to once again celebrate those moments with racing’s northern community. Our thanks must go to all of our awards sponsors and headline sponsor The ROA, without whom the event would not be possible. Thanks also to our hosts for the evening, Sophia Monkman and Robert Hogarth for doing such a wonderful job, our judging panel of Adele Mulrennan, Andrew Thornton, David Armstrong, David Carr and Andy Clifton who had the tricky task of picking the winners and finally, to all who attended and supported the event.”
Full list of awards and winners at the ROA Northern Racing Awards 2023:
Magic Moment – sponsored by ROA: Corach Rambler (The Randox Grand National winner 2023)
Jump Ride of the Season (Professional) – sponsored by Ray Green: Derek Fox, Corach Rambler (Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap at Cheltenham)
Flat Ride of the Season (Professional) – sponsored by Good Racing Company: Paul Mulrennan, Azure Blue (1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes (Group 2), York)
Jump Ride of the Season (Conditional and Amateur) – sponsored by John Wade Holdings: Emma Smith-Chaston, Ballynagran (racingtv.com/freemonth Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, Wetherby)
Flat Ride of the Season (Apprentice and Amateur) – sponsored by Racetech: Sean Kirrane, Live in the Dream (Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1), York)
Best Training Performance of the Season – National Hunt Trainer – sponsored by Sedgefield Racecourse: Mark Walford, Into Overdrive (William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap), Wetherby)
Best Training Performance of the Season – Flat Trainer – sponsored by Gain Equine Nutrition: Julie Camacho, Shaquille (Pertemps Network July Cup Stakes (Group 1), Newmarket)
Special Achievement of the Season – National Hunt Owner – sponsored by North Sea Logistics: Jimmy Fyffe & Scott Townshend, Benson (bet365 Morebattle Hurdle, Kelso)
Special Achievement of the Season – Flat Owner – sponsored by Newcastle Racecourse: Hughes, Rawlings & O’Shaugnessy (Pertemps Network July Cup Stakes (Group 1), Newmarket)
Point-to-Point Horse of the Year – sponsored by Scottish Racing: Cullin Hills (owned by Carol Milburn & Derryk Milburn, trained by William Milburn)
Stud/Breeder Success Story of the Year – sponsored by Mills Racing: Poptronic, David & Yvonne Blunt (Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1), Ascot)
