The final day of the Irish flat turf season at Leopardstown on Saturday saw some familiar names being crowned champions in their relevant spheres. Pat Smullen's new personal record of 115 winners was enough to secure the world class jockey with his ninth championship. Smullen amassed over €3.5 million in prize-money, helped in no small part by the success of the recently retired Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. For the second successive year, Smullen beat Colin Keane, who rode 77 winners, into second place. Given he won the British Flat Trainers Championship by almost £5m it was hardly a surprise to see Aidan O'Brien top the Irish standings yet again this year, while Sue Magnier's enviable squad did just enough to retain her title of Champion Owner with HH The Aga Khan also enjoying a great season in second. Eighteen-year-old Donnacha O'Brien was another to enjoy a memorable year and in just his third season riding he captured the Champion Apprentice title with 48 winners. He faces the exciting prospect of his first Breeders' Cup mount aboard his bother Joseph's Intricately (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) next weekend.
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