SA racing’s best honoured

SOUTH Africa’s racing champions for the 20192020 season will be announced on Sunday during the virtual Equus Awards.

It will be broadcast live at 19h30 on Tellytrack, Channel 249. It will also be available to view free on www. tellytrack.com.

The masters of ceremony will be two of the most famous faces – and voices – in the industry in Neil Andrews and Nico Kritsiotis.

The season finished slightly after deadline as the final major feature raceday at Hollywoodbets Greyville was only run on Saturday 29 August, where a number of the contenders for SA’s premier racing awards could well have earned the final nod of approval.

The judging panel this year consisted of Alistair Cohen, Andrew Harrison, Jack Milner, Ken Nicol and David Thiselton.

The winners were adjudicated from the following nominees:

Equine categories: Champion Two-year-old

Colt – Erik the Red, Mount Pleasant, Nourbese, Tempting Fate Champion Two-year-old Filly – Anything Goes, Sent by Destiny, Vernichey Champion Three-yearold Colt – Golden Ducat, Got The Greenlight Champion Three-yearold Filly – Missisippi Burning, Summer Pudding

Champion Older Male – Belgarion, Hawwaam, One World, Rainbow Bridge, Vardy Champion Older Filly/ Mare – Celtic Sea, Clouds Unfold, Queen Supreme, Ronnie’s Candy, Temple Grafin Champion Sprinter – Celtic Sea, Rivarine, Russet Air, Van Halen, Warrior’s Rest Champion Miler – Hawwaam, Rainbow Bridge, Vardy Champion Middle Distance – Belgarion, Gold Ducat, Got the Greenlight, Hawwaam, One World, Rainbow Bridge, Summer Pudding

This year there will be no award for Champion Stayer as the judges and members of the Equus Committee felt that there was no outright deserving winner in this category.

The Horse of the Year will be selected from any of the winners in the equine categories.

Breeder Awards: Champion Stallion, Champion Breeder, Champion Broodmare, Outstanding South African breeder.

Individual Awards: Champion Apprentice, Champion Jockey, Champion Trainer, Champion Owner.