Bid for owner title hots up

THE 2016 Flat season draws to a close at Leopardstown on Saturday and the day will be marked by presentations to the champion owner, trainer, jockey and apprentice.

The title of champion owner looks set to go right down to the wire with Sue Magnier holding a slender lead over HH The Aga Khan.

Part-owner of the brilliant Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes winner, Alice Springs, and the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes winner, Caravaggio, Mrs Magnier is bidding for her 14th owners’ title since 2000.

HH The Aga Khan lies in second place in the current standings and he counts the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner, Harzand, and Longines Irish Champions Weekend victor, Shamreen, among his big winners.

Aidan O’Brien is once again the champion Flat trainer. The fillies Minding and Found were his big prize-money winners during another tremendous season for Ballydoyle. O’Brien saddled Seventh Heaven to win the Darley Irish Oaks, while he also enjoyed Group 1 success with the two-year-olds Churchill and Caravaggio. His other domestic Group 1 winner in 2016 was Alice Springs, who won the Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Longines Irish Champions Weekend.

Pat Smullen was first crowned champion jockey in 2000 and he heads the list for the ninth time this year. He is on course to better his 2014 tally of 108 winners and will certainly count his Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby success on Harzand as the highlight of his domestic season. He also enjoyed success with Fascinating Rock, Shamreen and Zhukova. For the second successive year, Smullen looks set to beat Colin Keane into second place.

In just his third season riding, Donnacha O’Brien (18) has captured the champion apprentice title. Closing in on 50 winners, Donnacha is clear of Gary Halpin, Killian Leonard and his sister Ana in the table.