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
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