Brilliant Grey Gatsby lands top Yorkshire honour

Frank Gillespie’s horse of a lifetime beat off stiff competition, including David O’Meara’s top sprinter G Force, to collect the prize at the 2014 ‘Go Racing in Yorkshire’ annual awards lunch.

Trained at Hambleton by Kevin Ryan, The Grey Gatsby proved his win in York’s Betfred Dante Stakes was no fluke when winning the Group One Prix du Jockey Club – the French Derby – at Chantilly.

Second to Australia in the Juddmonte International back at York, The Grey Gatsby finally beat Aidan O’Brien’s champion in the Group One Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown courtesy of a vintage Ryan Moore ride.

The Sky Bet Trophies for the leading trainer and jockey on the Yorkshire racecourses during the 2014 Flat season went to Richard Fahey and Graham Lee with 79 and 49 winners respectively on the county’s tracks this year.

Malton-based Fahey is the top trainer on the Yorkshire racecourses for the fifth time (having also won in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013) His figure of winners - 79 - is a record, breaking his own tally of 70 set in 2009.

Lee, who lives near Bedale, was landing his award for the first time. He finished on an equal number of winners with Paul Mulrennan, but accrued more second places. The former Grand National-winning rider has taken the jumps award on the Yorkshire on three occasions.

As far as racing over jumps was concerned, Donald McCain was top trainer with 23 winners while his stable jockey Jason Maguire took the riding honours thanks to 19 successes. His achievement is even more meritorious because he underwent lifesaving liver surgery following a heavy fall at Stratford in March on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival.