IT WAS not surprising to learn that Zagreb, runaway winner of the Budweiser Irish Derby, has been sold to Japan, thus joining five of the last six Epsom Derby winners who are already in Japanese studs.
Zagreb's trainer Dermot Weld, who yesterday was the recipient of the overall award for the Biscuit Cognac/Irihs Independent Racing Personality Awards at a luncheon in Dublin, had hoped the colt would remain in training next season.
However, he confirmed that the Moyglare Stud's Irish Oaks winner Dance Design does stay in training and will be aimed at the top 10 furlong races.
John Oxx received a special international award for his training exploits with the Aga Khan's globetrotting filly Timarida. Naturally, Oxx would like to race this marvellous Group winning filly next season especially as she is in love with racing - but her owner may want her for stud duties after she competes in next Sunday's Group One Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park.
The awards were presented monthly to racing personalities who have achieved something special during the year. February's winner Fergie Sutherland told me that his star, Imperial Call, who won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown that month prior to his unforgettable triumph in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, is in tip top form and will reappear in Punchestown's Grade One MMI Stockbrokers Punchestown Chase over two and a half miles a week next Saturday.
Conor O'Dwyer, who rode Imperial Call at Leopardstown and in the Gold Cup, was nominated as the winner for March.
January's winner, Jessica Harrington, received her award for making history by becoming the first woman trainer to saddle the winner of the valuable Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown with Dance Beat who, tragically was put down after shattering a leg at Punchestown recently.
Arthur Moore and Frank Woods were April's recipients following the exploits of the Champion Chaser Klairon Davis and Feathered Gale who beat Jodami in a fine finish to the Jameson Irish Grand National.
Michael Kinane, who enjoyed a purple patch in May highlighted by Oscar Schindler's Chester Ormonde Stakes success, was that month's winner.
Dermot Weld and Pat Shanahan combined with Zagreb for a first ever success for both trainer and jockey in the Irish Derby in June and Weld was again the winner for July following Dance Design's victory in the Irish Oaks.
The success of The Bower in a listed race at Tralee, where Con Collins has an enviable record, earned the Curragh trainer the August award.
The September award went to Kevin Prendergast and Stephen Craine who combined to capture the Irish St Leger with Oscar Schindler and the year's special achievements closed with this month's winner Aidan O'Brien who marked his first Group One winner with Desert King in the National Stakes in September and during November saddled more than 30 winners and recorded his third successive century of National Hunt winners.
