In one of the most open years in racing in South Africa - the horse of the year award which caps off the annual Equus Awards to be held tomorrow evening at Emperors Palace - is the most debated of all the awards of the glamorous evening. It could also be the most controversial of all the awards of the evening as well.

The horse of the year debate this year is very simple, does one award it to an unbeaten sprinter or one of the star three year olds who campaigned over the middle distance category?

The trend locally and even internationally is to favour middle distance horses over sprinters and it seems unfair in the eyes of many purists in the racing industry.

The top contender for horse of the year title must be awesome sprint machine, J J The Jet Plane (Jet Master). The star returned from overseas a beaten horse, run into the ground in Europe and weary after an international campaign that was decent but not spectacular. He was sent back to his original trainer, Lucky Houdalakis, and returned to his best with two Grade 1 victories from two starts. The first was in the handicap Grade 1 event, the Golden Horse Sprint at Scottsville, and then a scintillating display followed when he won by 5.5 lengths at Clairwood in the Mercury Sprint in a canter.

The three year old group this year was outstanding. Mogok's son Orbison won the Champions Cup beating older horses and the subsequent July winner. Bold Silvano, by Silvano, won the Gr.1 Vodacom Durban July and the Gr.2 Greyville 1900 and Irish Flame (Dynasty) won the Gr. 1 Daily News 2000 (beating Bold Silvano), as well as the S.A Derby and the Gr.2 Gold Circle Derby.

Of the lesser candidates in the 3 year old ranks you have to consider Noordhoek Flyer and Bravura (Silvano). Noordhoek Flyer (Pivotal) won both the  Gr.2 KRA Guineas and the Gr.1 Cape Guineas. He fell away during the latter part of the KZN season but only due to a virus which accounted for his poor last effort in the Gr.1  Champions Cup. Bravura remains unbeaten but didn't compete in the KZN season due to injury. He won the Cape Derby earlier this year and is one for the future. Let us also not forget the Hyman Maisel (Hyjo Stud) bred Ancestral Fore (Dynasty) who won the Grade 1 Canon Gold Cup, a rare feat for any three year old, in some style.

Six time winner, Pierre Jourdan (Parade Leader) was the best marketed horse in the country and who could blame Phumelela. He won the Gr.2 Gauteng Guineas and the Gr.1 S.A Classic in Johannesburg, two legs of their Triple Crown but didn't come to Durban for the season which was a disappointment. He was also thrashed by Irish Flame in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Gr. 1 S.A Derby, which didn't do his form any favours. In all it was a vintage three year old crop and the new season should bring their owners rich rewards both in South Africa and in Dubai.

In all, J J The Jet Plane was the most impressive if one looks at racing performance and domination of his division. The three year olds, as good as they were, have been all over each other with no real stand out. Time will tell who it will be.

May the judges have mercy on the sprint division, even just for this one year!