2016 Boozypunter Horse of the Season

Our first 'official' flat Horse of the Season is...

Minding

The three-year-old Galileo filly notched up five wins in the season to edge Arc-winning stablemate Found by a mere 6.4 points.

Minding opened with a three and a half length win in the 1000 Guineas. There wasn't to be a follow-up three weeks later in the Irish equivalent as Ryan Moore's mount found Jet Setting too good and had to settle for second.

There was no mistake two weeks later as Minding took the Oaks at odds on. Minding was kept on the go, winning the Pretty Polly at the Curragh in late June and then the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, both at the prohibitive price of 1/5.

The Aiden O'Brien stable star was then given a break before coming back for a third place behind Almanzor and Found in the Irish Champion Stakes but returned to a mile for the QEII at Ascot on Champions Day had a half a length in hand to claim another 50+ point haul and our accolade.


237.7 - Minding (54.1 + 53.8 + 26.1 + 51.1 + 52.6)
231.3 - Found (38.1 + 24 + 24 + 121.2 + 24)
110.3 - Harzand (58.4 + 51.9)

Minding was a popular choice, being selected by Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil, Peej and Tony.

Crowns and Spoons (updated April 2025)

A totalling up of the Boozy Punter competition winners and losers...

Crowns
For the John Torpey Memorial Trophy since April 2013

9 - Neil (2003 F, 03/04 J, 2005 F, 2006 F, 12/13 J, 15/16 J, 2019 F, 2022 F, 2024 F)

8 - Cliff (98/99 J, 99/2000 J, 2007 F, 07/08 J, 2015 F, 2018 F, 2020 F, 20/21 J)

6 - Peej (2009 F, 13/14 J, 18/19 J, 21/22 J, 22/23 J, 23/24 J)

5 - Bob (2000 F,  2000/01 J, 09/10 J, 2016 F, 2023 F)
5 - Cod (2001 F, 2008 F, 2010 F, 11/12 J, 2012 F)

5 - Steve (1998 F, 17/18 J, 19/20 J, 2021 F, 24/25 J)

4 - Martin (01/02 J, 10/11 J, 2013 F, 2017 F)

5 - John (2002 F, 2004 F, 04/05 J, 05/06 J, 2011 F)
5 - Lee (02/03 J, 06/07 J, 08/09 J, 2014 F, 16/17 J)

2 - Tony (1999 F, 14/15 J)

Neil leads the way on the flat with six titles, Peej has five jumps titles.

Peej is the only Punter to have won three Jumps titles in a row. No one has done three flat in a row or three cross-code.


Spoons

14 - Steve (98/99 J, 99/2000 J, 2000 F, 01/02 J, 2002 F, 2003 F, 03/04 J, 04/05 J, 2008 F, 2011 F, 14/15 J, 2015 F, 15/16 J, 2016 F)
8 - Cod (02/03 J, 06/7 J, 2017 F, 2018 F, 19/20 J, 2020 F, 2022 F, 23/24 J)

7 - Peej (2004 F, 2006 F, 10/11 J, 2012 F, 2019 F, 2021 F, 2023 F)

6 - Bob (1999 F, 2013 F, 16/17 J, 17/18 J, 20/21 J, 2024 F)
5 - Cliff (2001 F, 05/06 J, 12/13 J, 13/14 J, 22/23 J)
4 - Martin (2007 F, 2014 F, 21/22 J, 24/25 J)

3 - Neil (09/10 J, 11/12 J, 18/19 J)

3 - Tony (08/09 J, 2009 F, 2010 F)

2 - John (2005 F, 07/08 J)
1 - Lee (2000/01 J)

We also have a coefficient - It's simple really, to get the best predicting Punter the number of spoons won are subtracted from the number of crowns....

+6 - Neil (9 crowns, 3 spoons)

+3 - Cliff (8 crowns, 5 spoons)

0 - Martin (4 crowns, 4 spoons)

-1 - Bob (5 crowns, 6 spoons)

-1 - Peej (6 crowns, 7 spoons)
-3 - Cod (5 crowns, 8 spoons)
-9 - Steve (5 crowns, 14 spoons)

3 - Lee (4 crowns, 1 spoon)
3 - John (5 crowns, 2 spoons)

-1 - Tony (2 crowns, 3 spoons)

Titles since last finished with the spoon - Steve 4, Neil 3, Peej 1, Bob 0, Cliff 0, Cod 0, Martin 0

Spoons since last title - Neil 0, Peej 0, Steve 0, Bob 1, Cliff 1, Martin 2, Cod 6

2016 Flat Issue 24 - a champ is crowned

Headlines

Bob Crowned Champion

The Tin Man Rattles Home at Ascot

Minding Lands QE 11

Results

At Ascot last Saturday in the 6f group 1 British Champion Sprint Stakes, The Tin Man (Lee, Peej), took his chance, held up in lastof trio towards far side and off the pace, closed from 2 out, ridden to lead inside last, stayed on well, winning by 1l . He gets 33.2 points.

In the 1m group 1 Queen Elizabeth 11 stakes, Minding (Bob, Cliff, Cod, Neil, Peej, Tony), went to post. Tracked leading pair in centre, shaken up and closed to lead overall 2 out, ridden and asserted over 1 out, winning comfortably by ½ l. She gets 52.6 points.

In the 1m 2f Group 1 Champion Stakes, Found (Bob), took her chance, held up towards raer, progress over 2 out, chased winner 1 out, ran on well, but not reach leader, finishing 2^nd, beaten 2l. She gets 24 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                        October   Total

Bob                    237             875.9

Tony                  132              799.8

Neil                   52.6               692.6

Cliff                   79.4              647.4

Cod                    52.6             576.9

Lee                     33.2             497.3

Peej                   60.5             500.1

Martin                00               417.6

Steve                  26.8             328.1

So that’s it Bob is Champion, Steve has another spoon.

So the next punter will be on 10^th November when the Jump Strings will Be Published

2016 Flat Issue 23 - all set up for Champions Day shootout

Headline

Free Passage win Keeps Bob Sweating

Report

Yesterday at Bath in the 1m 3f handicap Free Passage ( Tony) went to post, Held up in mid-division, headway on outside tracking leaders 5f out, ridden to lead and hung left inside final furlong, stayed on to go clear, winning by 1 ¼ l. He gets 29.8 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                        October   Total

Bob                    160.4            799.3

Tony                  59.4              727.2

Neil                   00                 640

Cliff                   26.8              594.8

Cod                    00               524.3

Lee                     00              464.1

Peej                   00                  439.3

Martin                00               417.6

Steve                  26.8             328.1

Congratulations to Martin who was September trainer of the month.

News

HENRY CANDY has revealed that impressive July Cup and Prix de la Foret winner Limato, widely assumed to be heading to the Breeders' Cup for his next start, will run in the Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Saturday if the going is good

CONNECTIONS of Simple Verse are leaning towards a crack at the Qipco Long Distance Cup on British Champions Day, rather than tasking the filly with a defence of her Fillies & Mares crown.

JOHN GOSDEN believes Jack Hobbs has thrived for his six months off and will be right 

2016 Flat Issue 22 - Arc weekend may have settled the competition

Headlines

Prince rules at Leicester

Shalaa Lands Ascot Stakes

Found Lands The Arc

Limato

Report

We start at Leicester recently where in the 1m 4f handicap, UAE Prince (Lee) went to post.. Tracked leaders, raced keenly, shaken up to lead over 3 out, soon pushed clear, eased inside last, winning by 4 ½ l. He gets 22.8 points.

On Saturday at Ascot, Shalaa (Bob), returned from a long absence in the 6f group 3, raced quite freely, made all, hard pressed just over 1 out, urged along strongly under hands and heels, held on well winning by a neck. He gets 39.2 points.

In the 1m 4f group 1 Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe Found (Bob), took her chance, midfield, ridden and good headway from 2 out, led well over1 out, ran on well, driven out, winning by 1 ¾ l. She gets 121.2 points.

In the 7f Group 1 Prix De La Foret, Limato ( Cliff, Steve) went to post, tracked leaders headway to lead over 1 out, soon ridden, drew clear winning comfortably by 3l. He gets 26.8 points.

Yesterday at Kempton in the 6f conditions stakes, Lord of The Land (Tony) took his chance, Slight bump start, chased leaders on wide outside, 2nd travelling well 2f out, soon led, ridden over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, ran on well , winning by 1 ¼ l, he gets 29.6 points.

The  John Torpey Memorial Trophy

                        October   Total

Bob                    160.4            799.3

Tony                  29.6             697.4

Neil                   00                 640

Cliff                   26.8              594.8

Cod                    00               524.3

Lee                     00              464.1

Peej                   00                  439.3

Martin                00               417.6

Steve                  26.8             328.1

Congratulations to Martin who was September trainer of the month.

News

Firstly I can announce that we will be back to 10 from now on as Micky was duly elected .

Michael Dods says he'd "love to run" Mecca's Angel in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint at Ascot on Saturday week, after the amazing five-year-old mare returned from Chantilly in good shape having finished third in Sunday's Prix de l'Abbaye

The competition would appear to rest on Champions day at Ascot. Tony has a single pick in the Bonus race QE II stakes, Stormy Antartic, whilst Bob has Zarak in the Bonus race Champion stakes