The Equus Awards took on a different format for the first time in it's history and it turned out to be a historic awards ceremony in more ways than one with domination from Mike De Kock and the 3 year old crop.

The premier awards ceremony in South Africa held at the majestic Emperor's Palace in Johannesburg took the format of a cinema style presentation as well as a sit down black tie dinner thereafter with guests left in anticipation for the last award of the night -  Horse of the Year - which was announced during the dinner.

The actual pre-recorded movie was hosted by Deez Dayanand, Clyde Basel, Dave Mollet and Cecil Mthembu at the TBA Sales ring and was shown to the star studded A-List racing celebrity guests in the Nu Metro Cinema complex at Emperor's Palace. It was a departure from the traditional Gala dinner and drew mixed reaction from the variety of racing personalities at the function.

The awards function itself was dominated by Mike De Kock who won nine awards along with the prestigious Horse of the Year award which went to Irish Flame ridden to victory on most of his wins by Kevin Shea. With no outstanding older horse on show bar J J The Jet Plane, the award was at the mercy of the 3 year olds. With most of them beating each other throughout the year, there was no stand out star, however, the judges did vote in favour of Irish Flame.

His record was impressive though. Sold to the De Kock yard from Dean Kannemeyer after the Cape season, he notched up six wins in the season with Group 1 wins in the S.A Derby and Daily News 2000. He was however beaten by Bravura twice, Bold Silvano and Pierre Jourdan, with only Bold Silvano of that lot picking up an Equus this year. Apparently, he did however garner 6 votes from the panel with 2 votes for Bold Silvano.

These awards ceremony bring together the best of the industry and it is an informal meeting place of the industry's elite to enjoy and rejoice at another year gone by. Well done to the RA for the organisation of the ceremony which was hosted for the first time by Racing South Africa. Whether or not the format of the ceremony met with the approval of the audience, it is certainly was different and South African racing needs pro-active positive change which we all can only learn from.

EQUUS AWARD WINNERS 2009-2010

AWARD, WINNER, OWNER/S, TRAINER, BREEDING, BREEDER

Two-Year-Old Filly

Mahbooba (Aus)

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum

Mike de Kock

Galileo-Sogha

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum

Two-Year-Old Colt

Link Man

Larry Nestadt, Greg Blank and and G Z Burg

Dennis Drier

Toreador-Western Smoke

Tawny Syndicate (Nom: Mr L M Nestadt)

Three-Year-Old Filly

Here To Win (Bzl)

Messrs B E Lobben and M Myhre

Mike de Kock

Roi Normand-Ascot Belle

Haras Santa Ana Do Rio Grande

Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding

Irish Flame

Larry Nestadt, Bernard Kantor, Gary Barber & Percy von Molendorff

Mike de Kock

Dynasty-Clock The Rock

Millennium Stud

Older Filly/Mare

Mother Russia

Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs M Slack)

Mike de Kock

Windrush-Russian Muse

Normandy Stud

Older Colt/Gelding/Horse

JJ The Jet Plane

Hennie du Preez, Coenie Strydom, Lucky Houdalakis and Thea Boyens

Lucky Houdalakis

Jet Master-Majestic Guest

Mrs P J Devine

Sprinter

JJ The Jet Plane

Hennie du Preez, Coenie Strydom, Lucky Houdalakis and Thea Boyens

Lucky Houdalakis

Jet Master-Majestic Guest

Mrs P J Devine

Middle-Distance Horse

Bold Silvano

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and Gill Thomson

Mike de Kock

Silvano-Bold Saffron

Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd

Stayer

Irish Flame

Larry Nestadt, Bernard Kantor, Gary Barber & Percy von Molendorff

Mike de Kock

Dynasty-Clock The Rock

Millennium Stud

Outstanding Achievement

Hear The Drums

Peter Fabricius

Des McLachlan

Gold Press-Winning Glory

Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd

Champion Stallion

Jet Master. He stands at Klipdrift Stud

Rakeen-Jet Lightning

Mr A H Jonsson

Outstanding Stallion Achievement

Dynasty. He stands at Highlands

Fort Wood-Blakes Affair

Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd

Broodmare Of The Year

Stormsvlei  (She died  month ago but stood at both Zandvliet Stud and Out Of Africa Stud

Prince Florimund-Distant Echoes

Mr E W Miller

Champion Breeder

Summerhill Stud

Breeder - International Achievement

AJ Boshoff (Lizard’s Desire)

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum

Mike de Kock

Lizard Island-Annsfield

Mr A J Boshoff

Joint Breeder Of The Year

Ascot Stud

Normandy Stud

Work Riders Of The Year

John Nel

Andile Ndongo

Apprentice Of The Year

Aldo Domeyer

Champion Jockey

Anton Marcus

Champion Trainer

Mike de Kock

Owner Of The Year

Ingrid and Markus Jooste

Horse Of The Year

Irish Flame

Larry Nestadt, Bernard Kantor, Gary Barber & Percy von Molendorff

Mike de Kock

Dynasty-Clock The Rock

Millennium Stud