THOUGH it was only a decade ago, a look back to the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association awards night in 2006 evokes many mixed feelings. Sadly, far too many of the award winners on that evening have left us, but their memories live forever.

The evening was held in late February that year near Naas and it was as popular then as it is now, with 360 guests in attendance. The chairman of the ITBA at the time did not have far to travel to the Killashee House Hotel, Dermot Cantillon being a nearby resident.

Eleven awards were presented to 13 recipients on the evening (more about that anon), with the late Liam Cashman of Rathbarry Stud being inducted into the Hall of Fame. He had an outstanding career in breeding, standing stallions and his influence was felt on the flat and in National Hunt circles. Indeed, his legacy is very much alive today and his death in 2010 robbed the industry of one of its best known sons.

The award preceding the Hall of Fame was for outstanding contribution and this was given to Ned Gowing. His work in the veterinary area is legendary and he died in 2015 following a distinguished career.

On a night when many greats were honoured, a third special award, that of Lifetime Achievement, was presented to Martin Molony, a legend in the saddle and later the master of Rathmore Stud, run today by his son Peter.

The first two awards that evening were given for the best two-year-old filly and best three-year-old colt. The winners have made quite an impact in the intervening years. Rumplestiltskin did not build on her two-year-old racing career when she was the champion of Europe following wins in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Prix Marcel Boussac. However, at stud she is now dam of the Group 1 winner Tapestry and smart juvenile John F Kennedy.

The success enjoyed by Dubawi since he was honoured is even more staggering. Now one of the world’s leading stallions, and oversubscribed for 2015 at £225,000, he is responsible for well over 20 Group 1 winners and he was the fastest sire to get 50 group winners.

great loss

The Coolmore sire Montjeu was given the stallion award and what a loss he has proven to be following his death in 2012 at the age of 16. His growing list of Group 1 winners is packed with a host of successful sire sons and his influence will continue to be felt for many years to come.

One of the other awards on the night was given to Gestut Ammerland, breeders of Hurricane Run who that year won the Irish Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Hurricane Run stayed in training at four and added two more Group 1 successes – the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Since retiring to stud he has sired Ectot and Magic Hurricane, both Group 1 winners.

Cathal Ryan, the late owner of Swordlestown Stud, received an award for the broodmare of the year. This was accepted by Ger Morrin for Shamarra, and she had the distinction of breeding the top three-year-old Proclamation, winner of the Group 1 Sussex Stakes and the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, and a Cheltenham Festival winner in No Refuge who captured the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.

Tony Keogh was honoured as the breeder of Hedgehunter who in 2005 had won the Aintree Grand National. Just a few weeks following the awards night the gelding finished second to War Of Attrition in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and occupied the same position behind Numbersixvalverde in the Aintree Grand National.

Irish breeders had enjoyed a special Cheltenham in 2005 and the three main races at the festival – the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase – were all won by Irish-breds. This led to awards being given to Michael Hickey (who also received an award last weekend) for Kicking King, Patrick Joyce for Hardy Eustace and Edward Joyce for Moscow Flyer.

The three shared the National Hunt Special Achievement Award.

There were a few years when an award was presented on these nights for industry employees. In 2006 the chosen recipients were the team at Weatherbys Ireland, then led by Joe Kiernan. On the night the figurehead chosen from the team to accept the award was Georgina Doherty, today the Senior Commercial Executive at Weatherbys Ireland.

The guest of honour on the night was Mary Coughlan, the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Awards were sponsored by Kildangan Stud, Irish National Stud, Thoroughbred Remedies Ireland, Goffs, BBA Ireland, the Aga Khan Studs, Ballyhane Stud, Horse Racing Ireland, Sean Barrett Bloodstock Insurances, Tattersalls Ireland and Coolmore Stud.