THE unforgettable racecourse achievements of Danoli, ‘the People’s Champion’, were recalled at last weekend’s ITBA National Breeding and Racing Awards when Danoli’s breeder Willie Austin was honoured.

Based in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, Austin has produced plenty of winners over the past 50 years, including Galway Plate winner Blazing Tempo and, most recently, the top class staying hurdler Blazing Khal.

All three of those stars descend from a filly foal Willie acquired privately almost 50 years ago. He named her Blaze Gold and he trained her himself to win on the track before breeding from her.

In a video recorded at the Austin homestead, Willie lamented the fact the horse could not make his reserve at the store sales and how he did a deal with Co Carlow bonesetter Dan O’Neill for IR£7,000.

Trained by the late Tom Foley, Danoli raced 32 times between 1992 and 2000, winning 17 races, including an Irish Gold Cup, two Aintree Hurdles and the SunAlliance Hurdle at Cheltenham. By coincidence, his regular jockey Charlie Swan was also from Cloughjordan.

Now in his 70s, Willie is ably assisted by his wife Frances, daughters Janette, Kristina, Michelle and son Leslie.

It emerged on the night that Frances in fact does “90% of the work” when mares need to be covered and Willie admitted that his better half “always does the business end of things” when she is not “running around when we are short of feed or anything”. It was even suggested that Frances paid for Blaze Gold in the first place!

Summing up the award, Brendan McArdle of the ITBA Events Committee said: “Willie and his family have made a big impact on Irish racing over the years, and are typical of the many families who devote their lives to racing and breeding in this country. They are worthy winners of this year’s Small Breeder Award.”