The Ingrid and Markus Jooste owned Legal Eagle (Greys Inn) was crowned Horse Of The Year for the South African racing season of 2015-2016 last night in Johannesburg.

It was a memorable evening for the Joostes, who were named Champion Owners yet again. Not only were the couple’s Always In Charge (Captain Al) was named Champion Two-Year-Old Colt but Markus is also a part-owner of undefeated Cloth Of Cloud (Captain Al), the Equus Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. Cloth Of Cloud’s brilliant season assisted in making her dam Our Table Mountain (Fusaichi Pegasus) garner an Equus Champion Broodmare Title.

Legal Eagle ran first or second in all five of his outings last season, and won three Gr1 races –the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, and the Premier’s Champion Challenge.

The newly turned five-year-old picked up a total of three Equus Awards on the night –Legal Eagle also being named Champion Miler and Champion Middle Distance Horse.

His trainer Sean Tarry was named Champion Trainer for a second year in a row, with the Gauteng based conditioner setting a new record for the number of winners (and prize money earned) sent out by a trainer in a South African season. S’Manga Khumalo, who enjoyed so much success for the Tarry yard last season, earned his second title as Champion Jockey in three years.

Breeders’ Cup bound Smart Call (Ideal World), who beat Legal Eagle in the G1 J&B Met and who also picked up the Gr1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes, picked up two awards on the evening, namely that of Champion Older Filly/Mare and Champion Middle Distance Horse.

It was also an evening to remember for the late broodmare Great Verdict (Christmas Tree) –whose son Greys Inn is responsible for Legal Eagle and whose daughter Good Judgement produced Smart Call!

KZN Farm Summerhill Stud picked up its tenth Champion Breeder Award, while the Cape farm Lammerskraal Stud were honoured with an Outstanding Breeder Of The Year award. Lammerskraal’s graduates included the Triple Crown winning Abashiri (by the farm’s resident sire Go Deputy) –who himself missed out on winning an Equus Award but was honoured with a Special Achievement award.

Others to collect a special achievement award on the evening included legendary trainer Ormond Ferraris, who was represented by his 2500th win last season, as well as the connections of inaugural CTS Million Dollar hero Illuminator (Trippi) and the remarkable racemare Inara (Trippi) –with the latter winning Gr1 races in three different provinces last season.

HORSE OF THE YEAR
Legal Eagle
CHAMPION 2YO Colt
Always In Charge
CHAMPION 2YO Filly
Cloth Of Cloud
CHAMPION 3YO Colt
Marinaresco
CHAMPION 3YO Filly
Bela-Bela
CHAMPION Older Filly/Mare
Smart Call
CHAMPION Sprinter (1000-1200m)
Talktothestars
CHAMPION Miler (1400-1600m)
Legal Eagle
CHAMPION Middle Distance (1800-2200m)
Smart Call
CHAMPION Stayer (2400m)
Enaad (Aus)
CHAMPION Older Male
Legal Eagle
Champion STALLION
Trippi
Champion BROODMARE
Our Table Mountain

Champion BREEDER
Summerhill Stud

Outstanding BROODMARE
Young Sensation

Exceptional BROODMARE Achievement
Mystic Spring

Outstanding BREEDER Award
Lammerskraal Stud

MEDIA Award – Print
Charles Faull

Champion APPRENTICE
Callan Murray

Champion JOCKEY
S’manga Khumalo

Champion TRAINER
Sean Tarry

Champion OWNER
Ingrid & Markus Jooste – Mayfair Speculators Pty Ltd

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT Award

Ormond Ferraris
Illuminator – Glen Puller, Frances Carruthers & Ian Robinson
Inara – Mike Bass, Gaynor Rupert, Ross Fuller & Kevin Sommerville
Abashiri – Mike Azzie & Adriaan and Rika Van Vuuren