All the Equus Award winners of 2022 (Picture: Equus Awards).
The Equus Awards usually throws one or two surprises or controversies and this might be the case tomorrow (Wednesday) night too as some of the categories are debatable.
The Equus Horse Of The Year Award is one of the debatable ones. Statistically it should go to Princess Calla. She was on top of the points table for this category through victory in three Gr 1s and three Gr 2s. Her two Gr 1 wins against fillies and mares were over 1200m and 1600m respectively, they were both weight for age events and she was dominant. She then came out and beat the boys in an open wfa event over 1800m. Of her three Gr 2 wins one was against the boys and she won that one by 5,25 lengths. However, other chief protagonist Charles Dickens has the “wow” factor about him and is the highest rated SA horse in the Longines World rankings. He is also the highest merit rated horse in SA. His two Gr 1s were in the sire-producing Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and in an open wfa mile at Hollywoodbets Greyville, the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m, and he was hugely impressive in both. He also won a Gr 3 and a Gr 2 in fine style and went close in two Gr 1 defeats in the prestigious Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby. It will be a close call.
Turf Talk Prediction: Princess Calla
The Two-year-old Male award looked to be going all Lucky Lad’s way until the last meeting of the season. He had no luck in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes and trailed in last. Th winner Sandringhan Summit, who was coming off a Gr 2 win, was enormously impressive. Lucky Lad did finish on top of the points table though.
Turf Talk Prediction: Sandringham Summit
The two-year-old filly award is set in stone.
Turf Talk Prediction: Mrs Geriatrix
Three-year-old Male Award: Charles Dickens was defeated by See It Again in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby but exacted revenge in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas. See It Again later won the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and finished a close second in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July. However, Charles Dickens won an open wfa Gr 1, the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge. See It Again’s failure to win the open wfa Gr 1, the HKJC World Pool Champions Cup, where he finished second, dented his chances.
Turf Talk Prediction: Charles Dickens
Three-year-old Filly award: Make It Snappy won two Gr 1s, the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, a weight for age event for fillies and mares. That should have sealed it, although Bless My Stars finished with a flourish adding a Hollywoodbets Durban July third place to her Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic win and then adding the Gr 2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet at the last meeting of the season. It would be no surprise if she clinches it, considering Make It Snappy was last seen in January.
Prediction: Make It Snappy
Champion Older Male: This is a tough category with points table winner Trip Of Fortune having won an open wfa Gr 1 plus two Gr 2s and a Gr3; versus Isivunguvungu (two open wfa Gr 1s); And Gimme A Prince (one open wfa Gr 1, one handicap Gr 1 carrying topweight and a Gr 2); And Puerto Manzano (Handicap Gr 1, Open wfa Gr 1, two Gr 3s).
Turf Talk prediction: Gimme A Prince
Champion Sprinter: It is between Isivunguvungu and Gimme A Prince and Princess Calla.
Turf Talk Prediction: Gimme A Prince
Champion Middle Distance:
Turf Talk Prediction: See It Again
Champion Miler:
Turf Talk Prediction: Charles Dickens
Champion Stayer:
Turf Talk Prediction: Future Pearl
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