Best dressed man and a blue hen of note – my own unofficial ITBA awards

As soon as I find out the date of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's national awards each year, it is circled on my calendar and kept firmly clear.

The organisation always puts on a spectacular show, one that manages to be at the same time both formal and fun. If only other bloodstock ceremonies struck that balance so well; especially those for which the gilt embossed invitation card stipulates 'carriages at midnight', that most euphemistically English way of telling you when you will be expected to sling yer hook.

This year's ITBA awards, held in a lavishly decorated function room at the Heritage Hotel in County Laois on Saturday evening, lived up to expectations once again as breeders of fan favourites such as Alpha Centauri, Altior and Tiger Roll were honoured alongside respected industry servants.

There is always lively and lengthy debate in the bar after the awards have been handed out, and mercifully little mention of the B word this time around. So calamitous are the Government's negotiations over Britain leaving the EU, with the terms of a deal or otherwise so vague, that there is little more to say than 'I don't know what will happen'.

That is not to say that the ITBA has not been doing its best to prepare for whatever outcome will arise in the coming weeks or months, though, and chairman Christy Grassick spelt out in his opening address the grave consequences of Irish breeders losing ease of access to their biggest market in Britain.

That challenge, along with the tough middle and lower market at auctions at present, will be discussed at the ITBA seminar next month. But for now, to continue the spirit of focusing on Irish achievement and diverting ourselves from wider worries, I have taken it upon myself to award a few supplementary awards of my own based on Saturday's event.

Most overdue honour

David Nagle graciously said in his acceptance speech that he wasn't expecting the award as he and wife Diane were inducted into the association's hall of fame.

Many in the audience might have expected the Nagles to have been recognised in such a way much, much earlier. It was they, after all, who gave the world such magnificent talents as Generous and Yeats; not to mention the likes of Oratorio, Simple Verse and most recently Kew Gardens and Flag Of Honour.

Still, better late than never, and if there was a roped off area for especially high achievers within the hall of fame then the Nagles would surely deserve to occupy that space.

Best words of wisdom

Asked by compère Leo Powell what the secrets to his success over six decades of training were, Kevin Prendergast, recipient of a special recognition award, stated simply: “Get up early and drink plenty.”

Judging by the subsequent action in the bar and the flurry of guests checking out of the hotel at reception in haste at lunchtime on Sunday, it appears audience members followed at least half of the legendary handler's advice.

Blue hen of the year

Producer of three Group 1 winners on the same card, Fanny O'Rourke was one of the stars of the evening.

Her sons Liam, Garrett and Brian O'Rourke were jointly awarded the Flying Geese accolade for horsemen and women who have flown the Irish tricolour with distinction overseas.

As is the case with all the best names in racing, Mrs O'Rourke has endurance as well as brilliance and was spotted dancing into the wee hours, long after many younger guests had cried enough.

Nattiest dresser

It seemed as though Gerry O'Brien, given the National Hunt achievement award for breeding Tiger Roll, had been transported from the drawing room of a fin de siècle London gentlemen's club, resplendent as he was in a velvet midnight blue smoking jacket teamed with a glorious candy stripe shirt.

Later in the evening the former key member of the Coolmore veterinary team noted my jealous glances and generously let me in on the secret of where to go to procure a smoking jacket of my own at a knock-down sum.

O'Brien did not get the chance to deliver an acceptance speech, which deprived the room of hearing from a great and original mind, but he did tell me afterwards: “I'm very honoured to receive the award on behalf of the gargantuan achievements of Tiger Roll, but in reality he should be on the podium not me.

“All the credit must go to Gordon Elliott trainer extraordinaire. Without him and his team it would never have happened, likewise the jockeys who rode him – Lisa O'Neill, Keith Donoghue and the indomitable Davy Russell, who all delivered master classes on the day.”

Unsung heroine of the evening

Even while the slick videos that detail each award recipient's achievements were playing, I couldn't help but notice the ITBA's unflappable Kerry Ryan darting around the room, marshalling winners and camera crew to ensure they made it to the stage at the correct time.

The evening clearly takes an awful lot of organisation and effort by all the ITBA team and they deserve our thanks.

If only Britain had such dedicated and talented people to co-ordinate Brexit. But let's not get bogged down by that gloomy subject again as we reflect on an occasion that is rightly all about celebrating the best of our industry.

Click here for the full list of winners at Saturday's ITBA awards