2023 EQUUS AWARDS CHAMPIONS PRESS RELEASE

The results of the 2023 Equus Awards held at the Senate Room at Emperors Palace were revealed this evening by Equus Masters of Ceremony, Alistair Cohen and Benni Langa. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our panel for their assistance with the deliberations, as well as all the members of the public for their enthusiastic participation in the voting element to help conclude the decisions. Also enormous thanks to the team behind the scenes for putting together the event.

 

2023 Equine categories:

 

Champion Two-year-old Male (Distance Immaterial)

Lucky Lad
Sandringham Summit
Winner: Sandringham Summit

Mr Rakesh Singh’s SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (Gimmethegreenlight – Townsend), bred by Varsfontein Stud, was a R1,7 million purchase from the 2022 BSA National Yearling Sale. Trained by David Nieuwenhuizen, he has had 5 starts during the season for 3 wins and 2 seconds and stakes of R842 250. His highlights included the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and the Gr1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes on World Pool Gold Cup day, delivering David Nieuwenhuizen’s first career Gr1 win in the process.

 

Champion Two-year-old Female (Distance Immaterial)

Bavarian Beauty
Mrs Geriatrix
Winter Cloud
Winner: Mrs Geriatrix

The Magical Lady Syndicate (Nom: Natalie Turner)’s MRS GERIATRIX (Vercingetorix – Velvet Glove) was bred by Peter & Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud and was a R200 000 purchase from the 2022 BSA National Yearling Sale. Trained by multiple SA Champion trainer Sean Tarry, Mrs Geriatrix posted an unbeaten 5 race win streak for the season, including the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship, Gr2 WSB SA Fillies Nursery and Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper on Hollywoodbets Durban July Day for earnings of R1,025,000.

 

Champion Three-year-old Male (Distance Immaterial)

Charles Dickens
See It Again
Winner: Charles Dickens

 

The Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) bred and owned CHARLES DICKENS (Trippi – Demanding Lady) bypassed the sales ring thanks to the fact that he displaces his palate and was retained to race in the interests of his stud. Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, he was one of the talking horses of the season, producing a sensational win in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. Valiant in defeat in both the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby, he posted back-to-back victories in the Gr2 WSB Guineas and Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge to close his season with 8 wins from 10 starts and stakes earnings of R3,544,063.

 

Champion Three-year-old Female (Distance Immaterial)

Bless My Stars
Make It Snappy
Winner: Bless My Stars

 

Kestorm Investments (Nom: Mr Kenneth Pillay)’s BLESS MY STARS (Gimmethegreenlight – Star Express) was bred by Varsfontein Stud and was a R250,000 purchase from the 2021 BSA National Yearling Sale. Trained by Paul Peter at 2, she won convincingly on debut and underlined her class by finishing less than half a length 3rd in the 2022 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes. Campaigned by Sean Tarry for the 2022/23 season, she put up a courageous fight to win the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Classic and earned place cheques in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks, Gr2 WSB Gerald Rosenberg Stakes and Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, before claiming victory in the Gr2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet. She closed her 3yo season with 5 wins from 13 starts and stakes earnings of R1,687,500.

 

Champion Older Male (Distance Immaterial)

Gimme A Prince
Puerto Manzano (ARG)
Trip Of Fortune
Winner: Trip Of Fortune

 

Bred by Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert), TRIP OF FORTUNE (Trippi – Louvre) was retained by his breeder after failing to meet his reserve at the 2020 BSA National Yearling Sales. Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, he was almost foot perfect at 2 and 3, before a famously rough trip in the 2022 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. Gelded and rested, he returned to the track for the 2022/23 season as a 4yo, winning the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Matchem Stakes and Gr2 WSB Green Point Stakes, before a somewhat unusual tactic of being tried on the Highveld en route to KZN for the Durban season. Fortune favours the brave and he put up a command performance to win the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein. In Durban, he added the Gr2 Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes and added creditable performances in all of the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup to close his season with 9 wins from 20 starts and stakes earnings of R1,698,800.

 

Champion Older Female (Distance Immaterial)

Desert Miracle
Princess Calla
Winner: Princess Calla

 

Mr M J A Ferreira’s PRINCESS CALLA (Flower Alley – Princess Royal) was bred by Maine Chance Farms and was a R600,000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate. After two career starts in KZN under the care of Dennis Bosch, including a 3rd place finish in the 2020 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes behind then undefeated champion Anything Goes, Princess Calla transferred to Cape-based Adam Marcus in late 2020 and her 3yo campaign comprised wins in the Gr2 Cape Fillies Championship, Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes and being narrowly beaten by Zarina in the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. At 4, she won the Gr3 Prix du Cap, and then in her single career start for Ashley Fortune, won the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein in April 2022. For the season at hand, she continued her career in the hands of Sean Tarry, winning the Gr2 wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes, Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes, Gr3 Senor Santa Stakes, Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness and Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, closing her 5yo campaign with victory in the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup. She has a total 11 wins from 23 starts to date, has won from 1000- 1800m and has accumulated stakes earnings of R2,826,875.

 

Champion Sprinter (1000-1200 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)

Gimme A Prince
Isivunguvungu
Princess Calla
Winner: Isivunguvungu

 

ISIVUNGUVUNGU (What A Winter – Miss Tweedy) was bred by Narrow Creek Stud and privately purchased by the Hollywood Syndicate in 2020. He was named by Hollywoodbets brand ambassador and Sharks rugby legend, Odwa Ndungane and the name means ‘storm’ in isiXhosa. Trained by Peter Muscutt, he won on debut at 2, made 5 starts at 3, winning the Listed In Full Flight Handicap and Listed Marshalls World Of Sport Umngeni Handicap. For 2022/23, he joined the Muscutt string in Cape Town for the Cape summer season as a 4yo, posting an eye-catching 3rd in the Gr1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship. He raided the Highveld to deliver Peter’s first career Gr1 in the Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint, followed up with a Pinnacle Stakes win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and closed his season with a second Gr1 win in the WFA Mercury Sprint. Isivunguvungu now has 6 wins from 14 starts and total earnings of R1,510,550.

 

Champion Miler (1400-1600 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)

Al Muthana (AUS)
Charles Dickens
Desert Miracle
Trip Of Fortune
Winner: Charles Dickens

 

Qualifying performances for this category from the Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) bred and owned CHARLES DICKENS (Trippi – Demanding Lady) include wins in the Gr3 Cape Classic, a sensational win in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and a valiant defeat in the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate as well as victory in the Gr2 WSB Guineas and Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.

 

Champion Middle Distance Horse (1800-2200 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)

Jet Dark
Princess Calla
Puerto Manzano (ARG)
Rain In Holland
See It Again
Winchester Mansion
Winner: Winchester Mansion

 

Bred by Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert), the cleverly named WINCHESTER MANSION (Trippi – Sea Point) was another to be retained by his breeder after breaking a vertebra his neck as a yearling. Placed with Philippi-based Brett Crawford, the colt saw the track for the first time at 3, having 8 starts at 3 for 2 wins (incl the Gr3 WSB Pocket Power Stakes) and a 2nd place finish to Gem King in the Gr3 WSB Legal Eagle Stakes. At 4, he took his place in the Gr3 Ridgemont Highlands Peninsula Handicap and Gr2 Antonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy, before being gelded and placed in the care of Brett’s son James at their satellite base in Randjesfontein. Prepped on the Highveld for his Durban campaign, Winchester Mansion was a narrow 2nd to Pacaya in the Gr2 WSB 1900, produced an authoritative win in the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial and then held off See It Again in the 2023 Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July in sensational fashion.

 

Champion Stayer (2400 Metres upwards, Age/gender Immaterial)

Arumugam
Future Pearl
Nebraas
Salvator Mundi
Winner: Future Pearl

 

Mr A R & Mrs A B L Beck’s FUTURE PEARL (Futura – Arabian Pearl) was a R525,000 purchase from Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)’s 2021 BSA National Yearling Sale draft. Trained by Sean Tarry, he had 2 useful juvenile starts. At 3, he had 12 starts for 5 wins, of which his place in the Gr1 WSB SA Derby and victories in the Gr3 WSB SA Gold Bowl, Gr3 DSTV Gold Vase and Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup secured his credentials for the Champion Stayer award.

 

2023 Breeder Awards:

Champion Broodmare: Demanding Lady

Champion Stallion: Gimmethegreenlight

Champion Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

Outstanding Stallion: Trippi

Outstanding Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

 

DEMANDING LADY (Dynasty – Demanding Damsel) got the nod for Champion Broodmare on the strength of current season performers Charles Dickens (Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, Gr2 WSB Guineas), Somerset Maugham (Listed Hollywoodbets Settlers Trophy) and Steinbeck.

 

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT (More Than Ready – Yes She Can Cancan) achieved 14 stakes winners of 21 stakes races and total earnings of R23,030,650. Additionally, he has achieved the exceptional feat of being named Champion sire of 2yo’s, Champion sire of 3yo’s as well as National Champion Sire for the 2022/23 season.

 

DRAKENSTEIN STUD (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) has achieved phenomenal success in its 20-year history. The stud received an Outstanding Achievement Award for producing 18 individual stakes winners for the 2021/22 season and celebrates its first Champion Breeder title in 2022/23 with a phenomenal 20 individual stakes winners and total stakes of R33,113,288.

 

TRIPPI (End Sweep – Jealous Appeal), SA champion sire of 2015/16, produced 9 stakes winners – including Charles Dickens, Jet Dark, Trip Of Fortune and Winchester Mansion - of 18 stakes races and total earnings of R14,394,738 for the 2023/23 season.

 

 

2023 Media Awards:

Print: Gary Lemke - Expectations, Reality and Greatness

Broadcast: Rouvaun Smit - L’Ormarins King’s Plate Race Day

Still Photography - Chase Liebenberg - Great Expectations

 

 

2023 Human Categories:

Champion Apprentice: Rachel Venniker

Champion Jockey: Keagan de Melo

Champion Trainer: Justin Snaith

Champion Owner: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

 

Rachel Venniker joined the SA Jockey Academy in 2021 and her natural talent as well as strong work ethic have earned her support across the board. She has justified all the faith and support by becoming the first female rider to become Champion Apprentice with 70 wins and a 14th place finish on the National log in 2021/22. She repeats the achievement for the 2022/23 season with a total of 107 wins and 7th place finish on this year’s National log, the highlight being her hard-fought win in the Gr2 WSB Gauteng Guineas on Eye Of The Prophet.

 

Keagan de Melo joined the SA Jockey Academy in 2009. He rode his first winner, Western Gem, at his 4th attempt for trainer Bart Rice at Scottsville on 9 August 2010. Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength with regular top ten finishes on the local log. He finished the 2022/23 season on 277 wins, nearly 20 wins clear of his nearest rival, and sufficient to secure his first SA Champion Jockey title. In June 2023 he received a call up to Hong Kong and has been licensed to ride there until February 2024.

 

Justin Snaith took out his license in August 2000 and has built the family’s Philippi base into a training powerhouse. Despite retiring two of his stable stars – Jet Dark and Captain’s Ransom – early in the season, he won the 2023 Gr1 WSB Met with Jet Dark and saddled 143 winners for the season for total earnings of R19,827,981. This is his 4th SA National Trainer’s Title.

 

Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) wins the Champion Owner category with 78 winners and total earnings of R19,165,813. This is the stud’s 3rd Champion Owner Title.

 

 

2023 Horse of the Year:

Winner – Princess Calla

 

PRINCESS CALLA (Flower Alley – Princess Royal) travelled the length and breadth of the country in the 2022/23 season, achieving 6 wins from 8 starts. During the Cape Summer Season, she won the Gr2 wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes and Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes; her Highveld campaign comprised wins in the Gr3 Senor Santa Stakes and Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness; and in Durban, she was victorious in the Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes and closed her 5yo campaign with victory at WFA in open company in the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup. She now has a total of 11 wins from 23 starts to date, has won from 1000- 1800m and has accumulated stakes earnings of R2,826,875.

 

She is the second Maine Chance Farms Horse Of The Year after Free My Heart in 2001/02.

 

Special Award to the Groom of the Horse of the year:

Winner - Mzwandile Julias Siqila

Sorry, we had to delete the earlier posts with the embargoed results

Well done to all the winners 🏆 👏

Reading a few messages on WhatsApp

Make It Snappy and Puerto Manzano should have won awards

Winchester Mansion shouldn’t have

Bob Brogan wrote:

Reading a few messages on WhatsApp

Make It Snappy and Puerto Manzano should have won awards

Winchester Mansion shouldn’t have

Make It Snappy very unlucky not to get the 3yo Filly award.

Puerto Manzano, to an extent unlucky but maybe the quality of fields he beat in Gauteng was his undoing.

I read previously the breakdown weighting/ratio system is as follows,

33.33% Points accumulated
33.33% Public Vote
33.33% Panel

Points accumulated should have the most weighting. That said maybe, add another separate item for winning only Grade 1s. Winning Grade 1s should have the most say. Alternatively give more points to winners of Grade 1s. The problem here is that Gauteng Grade 1s do not attract quality horses from out of province.

Public Vote should be only 10% as public vote with the heart and can be biased.

No Wilgerbosdrift or Ridgemont trophies this year?

naresh wrote:

Bob Brogan wrote:

Reading a few messages on WhatsApp

Make It Snappy and Puerto Manzano should have won awards

Winchester Mansion shouldn’t have

Make It Snappy very unlucky not to get the 3yo Filly award.

Puerto Manzano, to an extent unlucky but maybe the quality of fields he beat in Gauteng was his undoing.

I read previously the breakdown weighting/ratio system is as follows,

33.33% Points accumulated
33.33% Public Vote
33.33% Panel

Points accumulated should have the most weighting. That said maybe, add another separate item for winning only Grade 1s. Winning Grade 1s should have the most say. Alternatively give more points to winners of Grade 1s. The problem here is that Gauteng Grade 1s do not attract quality horses from out of province.

Public Vote should be only 10% as public vote with the heart and can be biased.

From what I'm gathering from the 33.33% rule

Horses with 66.66% weren't awarded and the public vote used

COUPLE OF EQUUS SHOCKS AS CALLA GETS THE BIG ONE

David Thiselton

The Sean Tarry-trained Maine Chance Farms-bred and Mario Ferreira-owned Flower Alley mare Princess Calla finished top of the points table in the Equus Horse Of The Year race and it was no surprise to see her clinch the award.

The award voting process has three facets to it, the points table based on results in big races, the public vote and the vote by an expert panel.

Princess Calla won three Gr 1s during the season over distances ranging from 1200m to 1800m. The two against the girls, over 1200m and 1600m respectively, were both weight for age events and she won them easily. She then took on the boys in a vintage field in the open wfa Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup over 1800m and ran out a cosy winner. Her three Gr 2s were all over sprints and the one that was against the boys she won by over five lengths. Her chief rival for the award Charles Dickens won the prestigious Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas as well as the open wfa Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, both in brilliant fashion, and he finished narrow seconds in two other prestigious events, the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby. However, it was the brilliance of Princess Calla in race after race coupled with her versatility that won the day.

The biggest shock of the night for the purists came when Hoillywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion was named Equus Middle Distance Champion. With all due respect to the Drakenstein homebred Trippi gelding he was 5,5kg better off than weight for age in comparison to See It Again when defeating the latter by 0,25 lengths in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, meaning See It Again put in about a 5kg better performance. Winchester Mansion’s other middle distance victory was in the Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial where he carried 55,5kg and won easily. Meanwhile, See It Again, a Michael Roberts-trained Drakenstein Stud-bred Twice Over colt, won two prestigious Gr 1 events, the Splashout Cape Derby and the Daily News 2000. His close second in the July with a big weight was rated the best performance of the season over all distances by respected analyst Karel Miedema. See It Again followed that with a good second in the Gr 1 HKJC open wfa Champions Cup. Neither of his Gr 1 wins accumulated points because age restricted events did not count towards the distance category awards’ point tables. The general public would not know much about handicapping and might have plumped for Winchester Mansion as the July winner. However, See It Again would likely have been a landslide winner of this award among the purists.

Trainer Brett Crawford would probably have seen the Middle Distance award as consolation, because he might have expected to land the Equus Champion Three-year-old award with the Maine Chance Farms-bred Hollywood Syndicate-owned Dynasty filly Make It Snappy. She won the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and then beat no fewer than four Gr 1-winning older horses in the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, including Equus Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom.

The filly who was given the award, the Sean Tarry-trained Varsfontein Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight filly Bless My Stars, won the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and the Gr 2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet. She also finished third in the July, an excellent effort even if she was carrying bottom weight and was beaten 3,75 lengths. Make It Snappy’s inactivity after her last run of the season in the WSB Met might have counted against her. A comparison between Bless My Stars’ July performance and Make It Snappy’s Met performance might also have swung it in the former’s favour. Bless My Stars is onwed by Kenneth Pillay’s Kestorm Invetsments.

The Peter Muscutt-trained Narrow Creek Stud-bred Hollywood Syndicate-owned Isivunguvungu was named Champion Sprinter despite Gimme A Prince finishing top of the points table. Isivunguvungu won two open wfa sprints and that likely swung it his way, although Gimme A Prince’s two Gr 1 wins included an open wfa sprint as well as a win with top weight in a handicap sprint. Some would argue the latter win was at least as good as winning an open wfa sprint. The bare result would back them up because Isivunguvungu beat Surjay by 0,30 lengths at level weights in the Mercury Sprint, whereas Gimme A Prince beat Surjay by 0,95 lengths in the Golden Horse Sprint giving the latter 4kg. Gimme A Prince of course was defeated by Surjay in the Mercury Sprint at level weights, but he did also win a Gr 2 sprint during the season and was 1-1 in Gr 1 clashes with Isivunguvungu. Nevertheless Isivunguvungu is a deserved winner of such an award and kudos to the Muscutt yard who have nurtured him superbly from a somewhat headstrong horse into a champion.

Despite Isivunguvungu and Gimme A Prince being dual Gr 1 winners along with Puerto Manzano, the Champion Older Male award went to single Gr 1 winner, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Drakenstein Stud-homebred Trip Of Fortune. However, few would quibble about that award as the Trippi gelding had a phenomenal season, winning a Gr 3, two Gr 2s and an open wfa Gr 1. He won Graded events in three different provinces. He also put up some fine placed performances.

Princess Calla walked away with two trophies because she naturally won the Champion Older Female award.

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Drakenstein Stud-homebred superstar Charles Dickens was the other dual award winner, walking away as expected with the Champion Three-year-old award and the Champion Miler.

The Champion Stayer award went as expected to the Sean Tarry-trained Drakesnstein Stud-bred Beck family-owned Future Pearl (Futura).

The two-year-old awards also went as expected to the David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Varsontain Stud-bred Rakesh Singh-owned Sandringham Summit (Gimmethegreenlight) and the Sean Tarry-trained Clifton Stud-bred Magical Lady Syndicate-owned Mrs Geriatrix (Vercingetorix).

Drakenstein Stud were associated with five of the equine awards as breeders and four as owners. They also own the Champion broodmare Demanding Lady, dam of dual Gr 1-winner Charles Dickens, Listed winner Somerset Maugham and Gr 1-runner up Charles, and they own Trippi, who won the Oustanding Sire award.

Drakenstein were also Champion Breeders and Champion Owners, so all in all they had a phenomenal season.

The list of all the winner and descriptions are shown below:


2023 EQUUS AWARDS

Johannesburg, 23 August 2023

The results of the 2023 Equus Awards held at the Senate Room at Emperors Palace were revealed this evening by Equus Masters of Ceremony, Alistair Cohen and Benni Langa. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our panel for their assistance with the deliberations, as well as all the members of the public for their enthusiastic participation in the voting element to help conclude the decisions. Also enormous thanks to the team behind the scenes for putting together the event.

2023 Equine categories:

Champion Two-year-old Male (Distance Immaterial)
Lucky Lad
Sandringham Summit
Winner: Sandringham Summit

Mr Rakesh Singh’s SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (Gimmethegreenlight – Townsend), bred by Varsfontein Stud, was a R1,7 million purchase from the 2022 BSA National Yearling Sale. Trained by David Nieuwenhuizen, he has had 5 starts during the season for 3 wins and 2 seconds and stakes of R842 250. His highlights included the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and the Gr1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes on World Pool Gold Cup day, delivering David Nieuwenhuizen’s first career Gr1 win in the process.

Champion Two-year-old Female (Distance Immaterial)
Bavarian Beauty
Mrs Geriatrix
Winter Cloud
Winner: Mrs Geriatrix

The Magical Lady Syndicate (Nom: Natalie Turner)’s MRS GERIATRIX (Vercingetorix – Velvet Glove) was bred by Peter & Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud and was a R200 000 purchase from the 2022 BSA National Yearling Sale. Trained by multiple SA Champion trainer Sean Tarry, Mrs Geriatrix posted an unbeaten 5 race win streak for the season, including the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship, Gr2 WSB SA Fillies Nursery and Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper on Hollywoodbets Durban July Day for earnings of R1,025,000.

Champion Three-year-old Male (Distance Immaterial)
Charles Dickens
See It Again
Winner: Charles Dickens

The Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) bred and owned CHARLES DICKENS (Trippi – Demanding Lady) bypassed the sales ring thanks to the fact that he displaces his palate and was retained to race in the interests of his stud. Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, he was one of the talking horses of the season, producing a sensational win in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. Valiant in defeat in both the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby, he posted back-to-back victories in the Gr2 WSB Guineas and Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge to close his season with 8 wins from 10 starts and stakes earnings of R3,544,063.

Champion Three-year-old Female (Distance Immaterial)
Bless My Stars
Make It Snappy
Winner: Bless My Stars

Kestorm Investments (Nom: Mr Kenneth Pillay)’s BLESS MY STARS (Gimmethegreenlight – Star Express) was bred by Varsfontein Stud and was a R250,000 purchase from the 2021 BSA National Yearling Sale. Trained by Paul Peter at 2, she won convincingly on debut and underlined her class by finishing less than half a length 3rd in the 2022 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes. Campaigned by Sean Tarry for the 2022/23 season, she put up a courageous fight to win the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Classic and earned place cheques in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks, Gr2 WSB Gerald Rosenberg Stakes and Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, before claiming victory in the Gr2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet. She closed her 3yo season with 5 wins from 13 starts and stakes earnings of R1,687,500.

Champion Older Male (Distance Immaterial)
Gimme A Prince
Puerto Manzano (ARG)
Trip Of Fortune
Winner: Trip Of Fortune

Bred by Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert), TRIP OF FORTUNE (Trippi – Louvre) was retained by his breeder after failing to meet his reserve at the 2020 BSA National Yearling Sales. Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, he was almost foot perfect at 2 and 3, before a famously rough trip in the 2022 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. Gelded and rested, he returned to the track for the 2022/23 season as a 4yo, winning the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Matchem Stakes and Gr2 WSB Green Point Stakes, before a somewhat unusual tactic of being tried on the Highveld en route to KZN for the Durban season. Fortune favours the brave and he put up a command performance to win the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein. In Durban, he added the Gr2 Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes and added creditable performances in all of the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup to close his season with 9 wins from 20 starts and stakes earnings of R1,698,800.

Champion Older Female (Distance Immaterial)
Desert Miracle
Princess Calla
Winner: Princess Calla

Mr M J A Ferreira’s PRINCESS CALLA (Flower Alley – Princess Royal) was bred by Maine Chance Farms and was a R600,000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate. After two career starts in KZN under the care of Dennis Bosch, including a 3rd place finish in the 2020 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes behind then undefeated champion Anything Goes, Princess Calla transferred to Cape-based Adam Marcus in late 2020 and her 3yo campaign comprised wins in the Gr2 Cape Fillies Championship, Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes and being narrowly beaten by Zarina in the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. At 4, she won the Gr3 Prix du Cap, and then in her single career start for Ashley Fortune, won the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein in April 2022. For the season at hand, she continued her career in the hands of Sean Tarry, winning the Gr2 wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes, Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes, Gr3 Senor Santa Stakes, Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness and Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, closing her 5yo campaign with victory in the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup. She has a total 11 wins from 23 starts to date, has won from 1000- 1800m and has accumulated stakes earnings of R2,826,875.

Champion Sprinter (1000-1200 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)
Gimme A Prince
Isivunguvungu
Princess Calla
Winner: Isivunguvungu

ISIVUNGUVUNGU (What A Winter – Miss Tweedy) was bred by Narrow Creek Stud and privately purchased by the Hollywood Syndicate in 2020. He was named by Hollywoodbets brand ambassador and Sharks rugby legend, Odwa Ndungane and the name means ‘storm’ in isiXhosa. Trained by Peter Muscutt, he won on debut at 2, made 5 starts at 3, winning the Listed In Full Flight Handicap and Listed Marshalls World Of Sport Umngeni Handicap. For 2022/23, he joined the Muscutt string in Cape Town for the Cape summer season as a 4yo, posting an eye-catching 3rd in the Gr1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship. He raided the Highveld to deliver Peter’s first career Gr1 in the Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint, followed up with a Pinnacle Stakes win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and closed his season with a second Gr1 win in the WFA Mercury Sprint. Isivunguvungu now has 6 wins from 14 starts and total earnings of R1,510,550.

Champion Miler (1400-1600 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)
Al Muthana (AUS)
Charles Dickens
Desert Miracle
Trip Of Fortune
Winner: Charles Dickens

Qualifying performances for this category from the Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) bred and owned CHARLES DICKENS (Trippi – Demanding Lady) include wins in the Gr3 Cape Classic, a sensational win in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and a valiant defeat in the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate as well as victory in the Gr2 WSB Guineas and Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.

Champion Middle Distance Horse (1800-2200 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)
Jet Dark
Princess Calla
Puerto Manzano (ARG)
Rain In Holland
See It Again
Winchester Mansion
Winner: Winchester Mansion

Bred by Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert), the cleverly named WINCHESTER MANSION (Trippi – Sea Point) was another to be retained by his breeder after breaking a vertebra his neck as a yearling. Placed with Philippi-based Brett Crawford, the colt saw the track for the first time at 3, having 8 starts at 3 for 2 wins (incl the Gr3 WSB Pocket Power Stakes) and a 2nd place finish to Gem King in the Gr3 WSB Legal Eagle Stakes. At 4, he took his place in the Gr3 Ridgemont Highlands Peninsula Handicap and Gr2 Antonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy, before being gelded and placed in the care of Brett’s son James at their satellite base in Randjesfontein. Prepped on the Highveld for his Durban campaign, Winchester Mansion was a narrow 2nd to Pacaya in the Gr2 WSB 1900, produced an authoritative win in the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial and then held off See It Again in the 2023 Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July in sensational fashion.

Champion Stayer (2400 Metres upwards, Age/gender Immaterial)
Arumugam
Future Pearl
Nebraas
Salvator Mundi
Winner: Future Pearl

Mr A R & Mrs A B L Beck’s FUTURE PEARL (Futura – Arabian Pearl) was a R525,000 purchase from Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)’s 2021 BSA National Yearling Sale draft. Trained by Sean Tarry, he had 2 useful juvenile starts. At 3, he had 12 starts for 5 wins, of which his place in the Gr1 WSB SA Derby and victories in the Gr3 WSB SA Gold Bowl, Gr3 DSTV Gold Vase and Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup secured his credentials for the Champion Stayer award.

2023 Breeder Awards:
Champion Broodmare: Demanding Lady

Champion Stallion: Gimmethegreenlight

Champion Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

Outstanding Stallion: Trippi

Outstanding Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

DEMANDING LADY (Dynasty – Demanding Damsel) got the nod for Champion Broodmare on the strength of current season performers Charles Dickens (Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, Gr2 WSB Guineas), Somerset Maugham (Listed Hollywoodbets Settlers Trophy) and Steinbeck.

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT (More Than Ready – Yes She Can Cancan) achieved 14 stakes winners of 21 stakes races and total earnings of R23,030,650. Additionally, he has achieved the exceptional feat of being named Champion sire of 2yo’s, Champion sire of 3yo’s as well as National Champion Sire for the 2022/23 season.

DRAKENSTEIN STUD (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) has achieved phenomenal success in its 20-year history. The stud received an Outstanding Achievement Award for producing 18 individual stakes winners for the 2021/22 season and celebrates its first Champion Breeder title in 2022/23 with a phenomenal 20 individual stakes winners and total stakes of R33,113,288.

TRIPPI (End Sweep – Jealous Appeal), SA champion sire of 2015/16, produced 9 stakes winners – including Charles Dickens, Jet Dark, Trip Of Fortune and Winchester Mansion – of 18 stakes races and total earnings of R14,394,738 for the 2023/23 season.

2023 Media Awards:
Print: Gary Lemke – Expectations, Reality and Greatness

Broadcast: Rouvaun Smit – L’Ormarins King’s Plate Race Day

Still Photography – Chase Liebenberg – Great Expectations

2023 Human Categories:
Champion Apprentice: Rachel Venniker

Champion Jockey: Keagan de Melo

Champion Trainer: Justin Snaith

Champion Owner: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

Rachel Venniker joined the SA Jockey Academy in 2021 and her natural talent as well as strong work ethic have earned her support across the board. She has justified all the faith and support by becoming the first female rider to become Champion Apprentice with 70 wins and a 14th place finish on the National log in 2021/22. She repeats the achievement for the 2022/23 season with a total of 107 wins and 7th place finish on this year’s National log, the highlight being her hard-fought win in the Gr2 WSB Gauteng Guineas on Eye Of The Prophet.

Keagan de Melo joined the SA Jockey Academy in 2009. He rode his first winner, Western Gem, at his 4th attempt for trainer Bart Rice at Scottsville on 9 August 2010. Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength with regular top ten finishes on the local log. He finished the 2022/23 season on 277 wins, nearly 20 wins clear of his nearest rival, and sufficient to secure his first SA Champion Jockey title. In June 2023 he received a call up to Hong Kong and has been licensed to ride there until February 2024.

Justin Snaith took out his license in August 2000 and has built the family’s Philippi base into a training powerhouse. Despite retiring two of his stable stars – Jet Dark and Captain’s Ransom – early in the season, he won the 2023 Gr1 WSB Met with Jet Dark and saddled 143 winners for the season for total earnings of R19,827,981. This is his 4th SA National Trainer’s Title.

Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) wins the Champion Owner category with 78 winners and total earnings of R19,165,813. This is the stud’s 3rd Champion Owner Title.



2023 Horse of the Year:
Winner – Princess Calla

PRINCESS CALLA (Flower Alley – Princess Royal) travelled the length and breadth of the country in the 2022/23 season, achieving 6 wins from 8 starts. During the Cape Summer Season, she won the Gr2 wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes and Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes; her Highveld campaign comprised wins in the Gr3 Senor Santa Stakes and Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness; and in Durban, she was victorious in the Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes and closed her 5yo campaign with victory at WFA in open company in the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup. She now has a total of 11 wins from 23 starts to date, has won from 1000- 1800m and has accumulated stakes earnings of R2,826,875.

She is the second Maine Chance Farms Horse Of The Year after Free My Heart in 2001/02.

Special Award to the Groom of the Horse of the year:

Winner – Mzwandile Julias Siqila

Released by: Colin Gordon – Chair of the Equus Committee

Picture: Princess Calla is the Equus Horse Of The Year (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

No surprises all round. I would only disagree with Winchester Mansion. See It Again won 2 grade1s over the distance category. Yes they were age restricted but in doing so he beat the Champion 3 year old and won the premium middle distance race for 3yos, the Daily News. Almost defied a huge weight in the toughest open handicap in the country and then fast finishing to the Horse of the Year.
Nothing against Winchester Mansion, his place in history is secured. Will be interesting to see how he does at WFA.

I have a different approach that I know will not be popular.
I feel that these awards should solely be based on points.
Racing is all about Rands and cents... let's leave the panel and public votes for the Oscar's...A decision to move to a metric award takes out all the nonsense .... we don't need a group of people deciding on the merit of ability when a point system gives you an absolute winner in each category....This approach will force connections to race for honors if they deem the awards will add to the stud book.
Similarly entrance to the July should be based solely on points performance in Graded races that run from 1 August until the final declarations...This will force trainers to qualify for the race without gaming the system for the best handicap position...We deserve the best horses competing for what we perceive to be the most desirable race to win.. The only horse that should get automatic qualification is the current holder of the July trophy... I know it will never happen but it would make for great racing with trainers having their horses hard as nails to qualify for the race. For too many years now there have been horses given places in the final field because of high achievement in the previous season without current form that justifies their inclusion in the final field.

For what it's worth, I agree with Mr H - why do we insist on making it so difficult ? For me, there is no way that Winchester Mansion should get 'Champion Middle Distance' - this is a disgrace given that he was slung in to win a Handicap; also I'd never in a million years give Bless My Stars the award - for me it is clear-cut that Make It Snappy would have been a more deserving winner

For me - the number of Gr1 wins, failing which or if a tie then the number of Gr2 wins, and then so on and so forth. (ie the number of wins at the highest level). Simple too.


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