Veteran Mullins wins award

Veteran trainer Paddy Mullins was honoured for a lifetime in racing at the inaugural Irish Horse Racing Awards in Dublin today.

The master of Doninga, in Co Kilkenny, who will be 85 later this month, is the first recipient of the outstanding achievement award.

Next year he will celebrate 50 years as a trainer, having earlier been a successful amateur rider and assistant to his father, William, from 1940 to 1953.

Mullins, who saddled Vintage Tipple to win the Darley Irish Oaks and Nearly A Moose to lift the Galway Plate this year, confirmed he has no plans to retire.

“I have no intention of giving up at this stage, especially after such a good year. I’m enjoying it more than ever,” he said.

The Flat award went to Dermot Weld, whose 2003 highlights were the victory of Refuse To Bend in the 2000 Guineas and Vinnie Roe’s third successive Irish St Leger.

The Curragh trainer has high hopes for Vinnie Roe next year.

“I think there could be more to come from him next season. The Ascot Gold Cup is an obvious midsummer target,” he said.

After lifting the National Hunt award, jump jockey Barry Geraghty said: “It’s hard to believe I had five winners at Cheltenham and won the Aintree National in the one year.”

Padge Berry, who has trained hundreds of winners between the flags as well as under Rules, claimed the point-to-point prize.

“The best chasers in Britain in recent years have all come from Irish point-to-points,” said Berry, who had 1993 Champion Hurdle winner Granville Again pass through his hands.

The awards were sponsored by Horse Racing Ireland in association with the Irish Racing Yearbook. They were determined by a poll of the racing media.