Equus Awards winners to be revealed on Tellytrack

VIEWERSHIP: BROADCAST TO TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY EVENING FROM 7.30PM

Leading horses, breeders, owners, trainers and jockey to be honoured.

Covid-19 has had a topsyturvy effect on so many issues in our lives, even the annual Equus Awards ceremony, which honours outstanding performances in the world of South African horseracing for the previous season.

The normal lavish banquet has been forced to the sidelines and this year a “virtual” Equus Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday at 7.30pm on Tellytrack, Channel 249. It will be also be available to view FREE on www.tellytrack.com but one just needs to first register online.

Our masters of ceremony on the evening are Neil Andrews and Nico Kritsiotis.

Saturday 29 August was the delayed final major feature raceday at Hollywoodbets Greyville where a number of horses stamped themselves as contenders for the various awards categories.

The judging panel, namely, Alistair Cohen, Andrew Harrison, Jack Milner, Ken Nicol and David Thiselton did not have an easy task in judging some of the categories.

The winners were adjudicated from the following nominees who were all worthy of consideration:

Equine categories:

Nominees: 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-year-old Colt: Golden Ducat, Got The Greenlight

Champion Three-year-old 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

A decision was taken by the judges and members of the Equus Committee not to award a Champion Stayer for 2020 as it was felt 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. The groom of the Horse of the Year will be acknowledged for his contribution to the success of the winner.

Breeder Awards:

Champion Stallion Champion Breeder Champion Broodmare

TBA will, in addition, be honouring the outstanding South African breeder

Individual Awards: Champion Apprentice Champion Jockey Champion Trainer Champion Owner

Picture courtesy of the Racing Association DEFENDING CHAMPIONS: Connections of Horse-of-the-Year Do It Again (from left) Jonathan Snaith, Nic Jonsson, Justin Snaith and Robin Bruss, with their trophies, presented to them by Michael Leaf at last year’s Equus Awards banquet.