The Justin Snaith-trained Captain’s Ransom (Captain Al) was announced as Horse Of The Year in the most eagerly awaited Equus Award at tonight’s ceremony at the Emperor’s Palace.
The Suzette and Basie Viljoen-owned Moutonshoek stud-bred filly finished narrowly behind her stablemate Jet Dark on the points table, which constituted one third of the weighting for the award’s election process.
The other two components, which also constituted one third of the weighting, were voting by an expert panel and voting by the public.
Captain’s Ransom was also named Champion Older female and Champion Sprinter.
Jet Dark also won three awards.
He was named Champion Older Male, Champion Miler and Champion Middle Distance horse.
The Glen Kotzen-trained Cousin Casey (Vercingetorix), the Mike de Kock-trained Safe Passage (Silvano) and the Sean Tarry-trained Rain In Holland (Duke Of Marmalade) were expected to be named Champion Two-year-old Male, Champion Three-year-old male and Champion Three-year-old filly respectively and were duly announced as the winners of those awards.
The Champion Two-year-old award was tighter and it went to Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes winner, the Darrel Moore-trained Canadian Summer (Oratorio), whose additional win of the Listed Devon Air Stakes must have swung it her way.
The Champion Stayer is the Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water, whose win of the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m would have clinched her the award.
The Champion Broodmare was Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein’s Gay Fortuna (Fort Wood), who has produced dual Grade 1 winner Marinaresco (Champions Cup and Durban July), Listed winner Mercurana and last season’s Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner, Marina. All three of Gay Fortuna’s black-type progeny were trained to their stakes successes by Candice Bass-Robinson.
The late Silvano is now a six-time Champion Sire.
His son Vercingetorix won the Outstanding Sire award as the leading stakes producing stallion of the season.
Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein wrested the Champion Breeders title back from Klawervlei Stud.
Drakenstein Stud won the outstanding Breeder award for their record-breaking feat of 18 individual stakes winners in a season.
Nominees and winners of 2022 Equine categories:
Champion Two-year-old Colt (Distance Immaterial)
· Thunderstuck
Winner: Cousin Casey
Champion Two-year-old Filly (Distance Immaterial)
· Ameena
· Sweet Pepper
Winner: Canadian Summer
Champion Three-year-old Colt (Distance Immaterial)
· Aragosta
· Pomp and Power
Winner: Safe Passage
Champion Three-year-old Filly (Distance Immaterial)
· Big Burn
· Chansonette
Winner: Rain in Holland
Champion Older Colt/Gelding (Distance Immaterial)
· Astrix
· Kommetdieding
· MK’s Pride
Winner: Jet Dark
Champion Older Filly/Mare (Distance Immaterial)
· Princess Calla
· Sparkling Water
Winner: Captain’s Ransom
Champion Sprinter (1000-1200 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)
· Alesian Chief
· Big Burn
· Bohica
· Master Archie
Winner: Captain’s Ransom
Champion Miler (1400-1600 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)
· Al Muthana (Aus)
· MK’s Pride
Winner: Jet Dark
Champion Middle Distance Horse (1800-2200 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)
· Astrix
· Kommetdieding
· Sparkling Water
Winner: Jet Dark
Champion Stayer (2400 Metres upwards, Age/gender Immaterial)
· Black Thorn
· Nebraas
· Shangani
Winner: Sparkling Water
2022 Breeder Awards:
Champion Broodmare: Gay Fortuna
Champion Stallion: Silvano
Champion Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein
Outstanding Stallion: Vercingetorix
Outstanding Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)
2022 Media Awards
Print Robyn Louw Underdogs who now rule the Sport of Kings
Broadcast Warren Lenferna In the box seat with Greg Bortz
Still Photography Candiese Lenferna Captain’s Ransom enjoying the Waves
2022 Human Categories:
Champion Apprentice: Rachel Venniker
Champion Jockey: Warren Kennedy
Champion Trainer: Paul Peter
Champion Owner: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)
2022 Horse of the Year:
Winner – Captain’s Ransom
Special Award to the Groom of the Horse of the year:
Winner – Isaac Mwelasa
