As expected, Mineshaft was named North America’s Horse of the Year in
Florida last night. As always there were controversial awards, but Mineshaft
was always a warm favourite to be named Horse of the Year, emulating
his sire and grandsire, both of whom went onto be champion sires.
Mineshaft also picked up an award for Champion Older Male and will
stand his first season at stud for $100 000.
Azeri
won her second Champion Older Female title, despite losing to Got Koko
in the Lady’s Secret Handicap. The daughter of Jade Hunter stays in
training.
The
most controversial awards, as usual, were centered around the turf
divisions. Many fans feel it should take more than one big race win to
be named a divisional champion, but the turf, and champion two year
olds, tend to focus solely on the Breeders Cup day. The Champion Two
Year Old Colt also was a difficult division but whether a colt who won
the Juvenile at 20-1 was a more deserving winner of the award over a
multiple graded stakes winner is open to debate.
Another
strange decision centered around the Champion Turf Male. High
Chaparral’s sole win in the U.S. came in a dead heat in the turf
with Johar. This was considered more worthy than the impressive
performances by enigmatic Storming Home, previously conqueror of turf
dead heater Johar.
Despite
the latter losing previously to Storming Home, it is an interesting
win for the recently retired Sadler’s Wells colt.
The
awards this year occasionally lacked nominees, who were certainly
deserving of nomination, ie Lion Heart in the Juvenile and Island
Fashion - who has since won two more Grade One races in the Three Year
Old filly division.
ECLIPSE
2003
AWARD WINNERS
Horse
of the Year: Mineshaft
Older
Male: Mineshaft
Older
Female: Azeri
Two
Year Old Colt/Gelding: Action
This Day
Two
Year Old Filly: Halfbridled
Three
Year Old Colt/Gelding: Funny
Cide
Three
Year Old Filly: Bird
Town
Turf
Male: High
Chaparral
Turf
Female: Islington
Sprinter:
Aldebaran
Steeplechaser:
McDynamo
Jockey:
Jerry Bailey
Apprentice:
Eddie Castro
Trainer:
Bobby Frankel
Owner:
Juddmonte Farms
Breeder:
Juddmonte Farms