There was no surprises at the Equus Awards on Thursday evening at Emperor's Palace in Johannesburg as Igugu was awarded the Horse of the Year after winning the Vodacom Durban July and the Triple Tiara in a fantastic season.

The Australian bred was the toast of the country when she won the Vodacom July beating home the boys for the first time in her career. Her future is uncertain as the quarantine issues surrounding the export of South African horses exists currently.

Hong Kong based owner, Winston Chow, would be thrilled that the Mogok sired The Apache clinched a coverted Equus. The champion 3 year old won the Daily News 2000 and the Champions Cup on the final day of the season for Gavin Van Zyl racing.

Princess Victoria is one of the best 2 year old fillies in many years. The Glen Kotzen charge was a penulty kick to win the two year award.

Pictures of the awards here

Award winners are the following (bold):

CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD FILLY

Amanee/Hidden Beauty/Princess Victoria/Trinity House

CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING

Delago Deluxe/ Fighting Warrior/Potala Palace

CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD FILLY

Ebony Flyer/Igugu

CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING

English Garden/ Shea Shea/Solo Traveller/The Apache/What a Winter

CHAMPION OLDER FILLY/MARE (Four-year-old and older)

Dancewiththedevil/Mother Russia/Val de Ra

CHAMPION OLDER MALE (Four-year-old and older)

Past Master/Happy Landing

CHAMPION SPRINTER (1000m-1200m)

August Rush/Shea Shea/ Val de Ra/ What a Winter

CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE HORSE (1400m-2200m)

Dancewiththedevil/ Igugu/ Mother Russia/ Past Master/The Apache

CHAMPION STAYER (2400m and further)

Aslan/Grey Cossack/ Ilsanpietro/ Sangria Girl/Seal/ Vertical Take-off

CHAMPION STALLION AWARD - Jet Master

OUTSTANDING STALLION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - Captain Al

BROODMARE OF THE YEAR - Sunshine Lover

BREEDER OF THE YEAR - Graystone Stud

BREEDER AWARD - EXCEPTIONAL INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
and EQUUS AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT -  J J The Jet Plane and Gypsey's Warning

CHAMPION BREEDER - Summerhill Stud

WORK RIDER AWARDS - Abraham Makhubo and Bizu Mjokwa

MEDIA AWARD - Robyn Louw (Print), Aiden Lithgow (Television)

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT - Ronny Napier

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR - JP Van Der Merwe

CHAMPION JOCKEY -  Anton Marcus

CHAMPION TRAINER - Mike De Kock

OWNER OF THE YEAR -  Markus Jooste

HORSE OF THE YEAR - Igugu