Vodka voted horse of the year in Japan.

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Vodka is Japanese horse of the year for 2008


Japan: Superstar filly Vodka has become the first female in 11 years to be voted Japanese horse of the year.

She received 180 of the 300 votes cast to become the third female after Tomei (1971) and Air Groove (1997), to receive Japan's top award.

Another filly claimed second in the voting in the shape of Vodka's arhc-rival Daiwa Scarlet, who gained 79 votes, followed by Derby winner Deep Sky.

Vodka, who became the first filly to win the Tokyo Yushun (Derby) in 63 years in 2007, added two more Grade 1s to her tally last term with victories in the Yasuda Kinen and Tenno Sho (Autumn).

The Katsuhiko Sumii five-year-old is being readied for her 2009 campaign in Dubai, where she is due to appear at the Carnival.

Deep Sky was unanimously voted best three-year-old colt and Kane Hekili made a successful comeback to reclaim his first best dirt horse title since 2005.

Yasutoshi Ikee was champion trainer in terms of races won, while Sumii took first place in the prize-money category.

Despite being sidelined with a fractured arm at the end of the season, Yutaka Take maintained his position as the leading jockey in races won to claim the title for the seventh year in a row and 18th time altogether.

However, he lost out in prize-money terms to Yasunari Iwata.

2008 JRA Equine Awards
Horse of the year: Vodka

Older male: Screen Hero

Older female: Vodka

3yo colt: Deep Sky

3yo filly: Little Amapola

2yo colt: Seiun Wonder

2yo filly: Buena Vista

Sprinter/miler: Sleepless Night

Dirt horse: Kane Hekili

Steeplechaser: King Joy