Curragh may be starting point for Camelot

Aidan O’Brien has reported Camelot to be fully recovered from his colic scare, declaring that the triple Classic winner has developed physically during the off-season and will campaign primarily from eight to ten furlongs in 2013.

The 17-time champion trainer was speaking after the son of Montjeu had been named Racehorse of the Year at the tenth annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards in Leopardstown yesterday.

Camelot (pictured) beat off some stiff competition to claim the honour, having become only the third horse since 1989 – Naswan and Sea The Stars were the other two – to bag the English 2000 Guineas-Derby double.

He followed up with a brave effort in very testing ground to win the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh before falling just short in the English St Leger, as he bid to become the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to claim the Triple Crown.

Those efforts undoubtedly left their mark as he floundered in the Longchamp mud in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe just three weeks later.

He is unlikely to return to mile-and-a-half examinations next year though, not to mention the mile-and-six test of the St Leger.

“He was always very different,” recalled O’Brien. “I ran into the lads at the sales in Newmarket and they said that they had seen a very special horse. We’re just glad we were able to mind him and not destroy him.

“He’s good now. He had colic, as everybody knows, but he’s in great order and is back cantering. He’s heavier than ever before and has physically done well from three-to-four.

“We always felt his best trip was from a mile to a mile-and-a-quarter and so we will probably campaign him that way.

“Hopefully he might start off at the Curragh in the Mooresbridge Stakes or one of those mile and a quarter races, then come to the Tattersalls (Gold Cup) and maybe have a look at (Royal) Ascot then.”

Camelot’s pilot, Joseph O’Brien, won the coveted Blue Horse in the flat racing category. O’Brien junior became champion jockey 12 months after garnering the apprentice honours and at just 19 years old.

Youghal native Davy Russell received the national hunt award, having finally become champion jockey.

Russell enjoys a highly fruitful partnership with Gigginstown House Stud and the 33-year-old paid tribute to Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, who retains his services.

“He’s helped my career along” said Russell. “He’s made life a lot more positive for me too. His outlook on life is very good.”

Russell named Un Atout, Road To Riches and Bright New Dawn as very exciting prospects for the future, while the likes of Sir Des Champs, First Lieutenant and Quito De La Roque will be challenging for some of jumps racing’s biggest pots in the coming months.

Popular trainer Peter Casey picked up the outstanding achievement award for his handling of the country’s top rated chaser, Flemenstar.

Colman Sweeney won the point-to-point award for the manner in which he came back from a potentially career-ending fall to ride the family owned and trained Salsify to victory in the Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase.

Moyglare Stud’s 50th anniversary was honoured with a Contribution to Racing honour, and Ballinrobe was the inaugural winner of the new Racecourse of the Year gong.