Frankie Dettori, Live In The Dream and Honeysuckle – who are the big winners in the 2023 Sun Racing awards?

I CAN’T promise you Will Smith whacking Chris Rock around the chops, but the Sun Racing Awards of 2023 could still get pretty lively.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for as we close out another memorable year on the turf.

Frankie Dettori was in the headlines throughout 2023GETTY

PALive In The Dream won a memorable Nunthorpe Stakes at York[/caption]

In 2023, the incredible Aidan O’Brien continued to break records, there was uproar over saunas and the whip, while Doom became the joint-shortest priced loser in British history at 1-25.

And of course, living legend Frankie Dettori retired, unretired and ended the year carrying pig’s testicles in his mouth on I’m A Celeb. What a 12 months it’s been.

Some of my awards will be serious, others less so — and, as an added bonus for you, I’ll even make some predictions for 2024.

Right, without further ado folks, let’s kick off with a few quickfire gongs.

First, let’s crown the Horse Of The Year — and look no further than Auguste Rodin. He danced every dance and bounced back from a couple of flops in the Guineas and King George to win the Derby, Irish Champion and Breeders’ Cup Turf — and the good news is he returns next year.

My Trainer Of The Year has to be Ralph Beckett, who will surely be a serious contender in the title race next season. He started the season in flying form and carried it on right through the summer, ending with a career-high number of winners and prize-money.

And how about Jockey Of The Year? Frankie made all the headlines on the Flat but, for my money, it’s Harry Cobden. He helped end Paul Nicholls’ Cheltenham Festival hoodoo with brilliant rides on Stage Star and Stay Away Fay and, for the past 12 months, Harry has been head and shoulders the best jumps rider around.

Now for the good stuff, and I’ll start with an easy one.

Hands down, the winner of Upset Of The Year is the wonderful Live In The Dream for his amazing Nunthorpe win at York.

I’ll never forget the scenes in the paddock after the race — Epsom trainer Adam West choking on his chewing gum and in a state of shock as owners Steve and Jolene de’Lemos celebrated wildly in front of the ITV cameras.

I was lucky to follow those guys out to the States as they chased an incredible win at the Breeders’ Cup. Sadly it wasn’t to be, but the Live In The Dream story was my favourite of 2023 and I hope he can deliver at the top table again next season.

I’m sticking with the sprinting theme for Jaw-Dropping Moment Of The Year. When Shaquille fluffed the start and then charged off with jockey Rossa Ryan mid-race in the July Cup, you knew he couldn’t possibly win.

Only he kept going and going — and ended up streaking clear for a win that defied the laws of physics for salt-of-the-earth trainer Julie Camacho. His success last summer was a joy to behold — it’s just a massive shame he was hauled off to stud at the end of the campaign.

This next horse has also started their second career, and is a runaway winner for the Is Someone Cutting Onions Award?  

There are some races at Cheltenham that will live long in the memory, and Honeysuckle’s emotional farewell victory in March was one of them.

The parade ring was heaving with fans who wanted to celebrate with the great mare and Henry De Bromhead, who tragically lost his teenage son Jack a few months earlier.

Tears flowed freely  — and it still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I watch the footage back.

From the sublime to the ridiculous, Yank trainer Wesley Ward wins the Damp Squib Of The Year. Ward hypes up his Royal Ascot horses a little more each season, and this time around American Rascal was the one he couldn’t have beat . . .  except he only beat one horse home in the Norfolk Stakes.

Maybe tone it down a little in 2024, eh, big Wes?

Talking of the US of A, Mick Appleby gets the gong for the Greatest Overseas Result with the brilliant Big Evs. His training of the pint-sized sprinter has been nothing short of remarkable, and it ended with a famous win at Santa Anita in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Top stuff.

You could easily be forgiven for thinking it’s just doom and gloom in this game at times — but there have been several moments of light relief.

Which brings me onto the PR Cock-Up Of The Year and, given how dysfunctional this sport can be, there are no shortage of contenders.
But the winner is a late entry and it goes to the team at Kempton, who failed to check the songs they were playing over the PA system were non-explicit.

Picture the scene: it’s Boxing Day, the mood is festive and the course is filling up with parents in Santa hats and their young kids ahead of a fun-filled family day out.

And over the tannoy, songs are blaring out with F-bombs galore and numerous references to — how can I put it — adult behaviour.
It made me laugh, but I can’t imagine the racecourse bosses were too amused.

And I have to give an award to my Unsung Heroes, one which carries a lot of personal significance. This gong goes out to the handymen at Cheltenham racecourse who came and fixed the leaky toilet in the press room during the Festival.

There was a growing smell of wee throughout the opening day, and by day two the carpet near my desk was saturated with whatever had been flushed away over the previous 24 hours.

They swooped in, as did the cleaners, and the big stink was resolved before they’d jumped off in the opener. God bless you.

Finally, I’ve just got time for some 2024 predictions . . .   

Frankie Dettori, who signed off in the UK with a stunning win on King Of Steel in the Champion Stakes, will return in time for Royal Ascot in June and ride a winner for John Gosden.

City Of Troy will win everything bar the Boat Race — including the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the dirt at Del Mar.

Oisin Murphy will ride his first winner over jumps — and regain his title from William Buick.

And your 2024 Grand National winner? Well, look no further than Gavin Cromwell’s Malina Girl, who is currently a 50-1 ‘rag’ but will definitely be one of the favourites if she gets to the race.

Here’s hoping the New Year is a happy, healthy and lucky one for you all.

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