2018 Racing Association Feature Season Awards
This event also marked the end of the Highveld summer season, but the winter season which includes the most famous, Durban July, still lies ahead.
THE annual Racing Association Feature Season Awards are one of the most prestigious events on the horseracing fraternity’s calendar and the 2017/2018 event was no exception.
The awards evening was held on May 23 at the Turffontein Racecourse where the winners of the different categories were announced. This event also marked the end of the Highveld summer season, but the winter season which includes the most famous, Durban July, still lies ahead. This season will see numerous events taking places at the coast as well as in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
Muzi Yeni walked away with the much-coveted prize of Champion Jockey of the Year while up and coming young blood in the trade of jockeys, Lyle Hewitson was awarded Champion Apprentice. Yeni had a bumper season winning two Grade One wins aboard Coral Fever and Lobo’s Legend and was narrowly beaten aboard Green Top in the Grade One Wilgerbosdrift South African Fillies Classic.
Photo: Annette van Schalkwyk.
Mike de Kock won the main prize of the evening, the Champion Trainer of the Year, ousting last year’s winner Sean Tarry by a mere point.
Coral Fever was crowned the Horse of the Season, accumulating 118 points.
Varsfontein Stud was the convincing winner of the Champion Breeder award with Mauritzfontein, with owner Jessica Slack, as Champion Owner. No doubt this award was firmly cemented by the gallant filly Nother Russia and her conquests throughout the season.
The work riders’ awards were proudly presented to the hardworking Samuel Mosia (Champion Work Rider) and Goodman Dadamasi (winner of the Work Riders series).
The Equine winners in each category are as follows:
Champion two-year-old filly: Ronnie’s Candy trained and owned by St John Gray.
Champion two-year-old colt/gelding: William the Silent for Colin Bird, trained by Robbie Sage.
Champion three-year-old filly: Takingthepeace trained and owned in partnership by Mike de Kock, Murray Makepeace and Michael Shea. However, in the months to come, Ross and Craig Kieswetter’s name will be added to the list of owners as they recently purchased 50 per cent of the filly.
Champion three-year-old colt/gelding: Monkshood, trained by Alastair Gordon for Wilgerbosdrift.
Champion older horse: Coral Fever also owned by Colin Bird for Robbie Sage.
Champion sprinter: Attenborough trained by Joey Ramsden for R Breitenbach, RDP Caboche-Adam, EG Hart de Keating, P O’Doherty, P Michleburgh, Mr J and Mrs C Brooks and Mr and Mrs D Naik.
Champion middle distance horse: Coral Fever for Robbie Sage.
Champion stayer: Hero’s Honour for Gary Alexander and owners JF and LMF Wernars, BG Gardner, GP Sadie and JP Gardner.
Photo: Annette van Schalkwyk.
The judging panel were Alastair Cohen, Clyde Basel, Larry Wainstein and Vee Moodley, who sat as the non-voting chairperson.
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