The family and friends of Niccolai Schuster were celebrating after their horse won at Punchestown on Wednesday.
Ellie Mac took the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle at the Co Kildare venue, coming home in the lead at odds of 8/1.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained horse is owned by the Niccolai Schuster Horse Racing Club, which was set up to honour the 21-year-old student after his death in the Berkeley balcony tragedy in California.
Niccolai along with Eoghan Culligan, Lorcán Miller, Eimear Walsh, Olivia Burke and Olivia's Irish-American cousin Ashley Donohoe all died while at a 21st birthday party in June 2015.
Ellie Mac's win at Punchestown was her first in over two years and the fourth in her career.
There were joyous scenes at Leopardstown' Christmas meeting in 2017 when she pulled off a 50/1 shock by landing a maiden hurdle.
A number of Niccolai's family and friends were at the Dublin venue to roar Ellie Mac on to victory.
Speaking after that success, Niccolai’s father John Schuster said: “This is the greatest day of our lives since the tragedy in Berkeley.
“My son was a great racing fan and we decided at a party to put a racing club together - there was no shortage of neighbours, friends and we had support from all over the world.”
Niccolai’s mother Graziella added: “Our beloved Niccolai went down on the balcony that day in Berkeley – his favourite sport apart from football was horseracing.
“He loved the Christmas festival here and what a way to start – he was on Daniel’s shoulders.”
Unfortunately those who celebrated at Leopardstown could not attend Punchestown on Wednesday due to Covid-19 restrictions, but we're sure they were celebrating from home.
