Winners of the six All-Weather Championships categories have been revealed
Thursday 24 April 2014 16:48, UK
Winners of the All-Weather Championships have been revealed following the new £1-million Finals Day at Lingfield Park on Good Friday, April 18.
Connections of the six category winners - Trainer of the Year, Jockey of the Year, Owner of the Year, Horse of the Year (in terms of prize money), Winning-most Horse and Sire of the Year - will each receive £10,000.
Adam Kirby was crowned Jockey of the Year with 90 wins during the season, which ran from October 26 to April 18, ahead of nearest rival Luke Morris (75 wins) with Joe Fanning third (64).
The 24-year-old has enjoyed several big-race wins over the All-Weather Championships, including a decisive victory on board the Phil McEntee-trained Living The Life in the £150,000 32Red.com All-Weather Fillies' and Mares' Championships on Good Friday.
He also recorded victories for a wide variety of trainers, including Marco Botti, Mark Johnston, Mick Easterby, Dean Ivory, Roger Varian, Richard Fahey and David Evans.
Mark Johnston was Trainer of the Year following 68 victories over the season, ahead of Mick Appleby (46) and David Evans (36). The Middleham trainer was well represented over the winter by a host of talented horses including four-time winners Blue Wave and Swivel plus Marshgate Lane, Galician and Hunting Ground.
Johnston's leading patron, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, dominated the owner standings with 46 wins and was Owner of the Year, well in front of Godolphin (16) and Dr Marwan Koukash (15).
Grandeur (owned by Yvonne Jacques and trained by Jeremy Noseda) was the Horse of the Year with prize money of just over £150,000 courtesy of victories at Lingfield Park in the Listed Coral.co.uk Winter Derby Trial on February 22 and the £200,000 Coral Easter Classic on All-Weather Championships Finals Day.
Alumina (owned by Shapoor Mistry and trained by Andrew Balding) was the Winning-most Horse with six wins. Mr Burbidge also had six wins but the award goes to Alumnia by virtue of her two thirds during the championship period.
Invincible Spirit, who stands at the Irish National Stud, was Stallion of the Year thanks to 41 victories.
Kate Hills, ARC Director of PR and Communications, commented: "We have been delighted with the inaugural All-Weather Championships and these awards highlight the vital role that jockeys, trainers and owners have played throughout the season.
"Adam Kirby has won the title in style and ridden plenty of winners at all four All-Weather courses for a host of trainers. He has proven once again to be a tremendous flag-bearer for All-Weather racing and I am delighted to see such dedication and hard work rewarded.
"Mark Johnston and Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum have been key supporters of the All-Weather Championships, while I am very pleased to see the connections of Grandeur and Alumina receive recognition."
