'Like his trainer, Autumn Glory was the ultimate gentleman'

Steve Drowne, 45, is one of the most respected and popular figures in the weighing room, with multiple Group 1 victories among a career total approaching 1,400 in Britain alone. The Hungerford-based freelance has in the past enjoyed longstanding associations with Mick Channon and Roger Charlton, riding top-level winners for both stables; he has topped the century three times. After being sidelined for a year in 2012 with a viral infection that interrupted the blood flow to his brain, he fought his way back and partnered his most recent Group 1 winner on Robert Cowell-trained Jwala in the Nunthorpe Stakes in 2013.

Sea Freedom
Slip Anchor - Rostova
Owner Bridget Swire
Trainer Toby Balding
Biggest win 1997 Ascot Stakes
Early in my career he really helped me on my way when he was my first Royal Ascot winner in the Ascot Stakes. I was just out of my claim then so it was significant but you don't really appreciate at the time quite what an achievement it is. Then people ring you afterwards and you think, well , actually an Ascot winner is quite a big deal. As you go on in life you realise how hard they are to come by. I'd been riding a few for Sea Freedom's trainer Toby Balding and owner Bridget Swire, and he was quite important because I carried on riding for the owner throughout my career and we ended up with Sakhee's Secret. Sea Freedom was a six-year-old and he'd only won a couple of little races before. He was a dour stayer – he'd been an expensive horse because he was a full brother to User Friendly but he was slow. It took him forever to win a race and he outstayed them at Ascot and we just got there. Toby really got me going with horses like Bomb Alaska in the Spring Mile at Newbury the following year and I started riding better horses for him.

Queen's Logic
Grand Lodge - Lagrion
Owner Jaber Abdullah
Trainer Mick Channon
Biggest win 2001 Cheveley Park Stakes