Dermot Weld hailed Pat Smullen as the "professional's professional" as the rider picked up his seventh Irish champion jockeys' title at Leopardstown.
Smullen and Weld have enjoyed another outstanding campaign, teaming up for big-race success with the likes of Free Eagle, Forgotten Rules, Mustajeeb and Pale Mimosa.
As well as Mustajeeb in the Jersey Stakes, Smullen rode 100 winners for the first time and also struck at Royal Ascot on Anthem Alexander in the Queen Mary for Eddie Lynam and the demand for his services shows no sign of declining.
Weld said: "He deserves it, he is a professional's professional - that's the best thing I can say about Pat Smullen.
"His work ethic and his work-rate is huge, he deserves the success he gets."
Smullen said: "It's been a brilliant year. From start to finish, it's been really good.
"The horses have been running consistently and that's the most important thing in an achievement like this.
"Needless to say I couldn't have done it without the support of the boss and all the owners.
"The slate is wiped clean now, however, and we have to start all over again!"
RaceBets have installed Smullen at 4-6 favourite for an eighth title, with Joseph O'Brien at 2-1 and Wayne Lordan available at 12-1.
"Needless to say I couldn't have done it without the support of the boss and all the owners" - Pat Smullen
Reflecting on the season, Weld, who finished runner-up to Aidan O'Brien in the trainers' title race, told At The Races: "Winning the other day with Forgotten Rules was special, and seeing Free Eagle come back has to be very high among it (seasonal highlights).
"He was our star horse, we had a hold up with him most of the year and to see him come back and win so well at Leopardstown and then run so well on (British) Champions Day was special.
"He's taken his race very well, he's in great form and we've a lot to look forward to next year."
O'Brien said: "We won some races, lost some races and that's the way it is, it doesn't go your way all the time. We won some nice races and we're delighted. We'll look forward to next year and will have some nice three-year-olds to look forward to and that's the main thing."
Colin Keane was crowned champion apprentice, with a healthy advantage over Leigh Roche, making up for a near-miss 12 months ago when edged out by Connor King.
Keane said: "It's brilliant. I'm still a bit disappointed to have been beaten by three last year, but I won it well this time.
"My number one goal was to beat last year's tally of winners. Luckily I did that and thankfully won the championship at the same time.
"I wouldn't be here without Ger (Lyons) and the whole team back home."
