SOUTH AFRICA’s Horse of the Year and the 2012 Equus Award winners will be announced at the annual banquet on Thursday 8 August at Emperors Palace.

The nominees are:

Champion 2YO colt

Potent Power:
O: E W Buhr, M A Currie, M Dally, D S Pitman; B: Riverton Stud T: D Drier
Soft Falling Rain:
O: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum; B: Highlands; T: Mike de Kock
The Hangman:
O: Mr CJH van Niekerk; B: Highlands; T: S Tarry
War Horse:
O: F N Englezakis; B: J & Mrs Erasmus; T: C Spies

Champion 2YO Filly

All is Secret:
O: M J Jooste, G M Miller; B: BBP Syndicate; T: V H Marshall
Rumya:
O: Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa al Maktoum; B: bred in New Zealand; T: M F de Kock
Straight Set:
O: F N Englezakis; B: Maine Chance; T: C Spies

Champion 3YO colt

Gimmethegreenlight:
O: H Adams, Kia Ora Stud (Nom Ms O Stevens); B: bred in Australia; T: J Snaith
Jackson:
O: I W Longmore, WJC Mitchell; B: Highlands; T: B Crawford
Master Plan:
O: Mr ALA Crabbia; B: Varsfontein Stud; T: Greg Ennion
Pomodoro:
O-B: C J H van Niekerk; T: S Tarry
Variety Club:
O: MJ and I Jooste; B: Beaumont Stud; T: Joey Ramsden

Champion 3YO Filly

Bambina Stripes:
O: K A Haug; B: bred in Argentina; T: D Drier
Ilha Bella:
O: Mrs M Slack; B: Wilgerbosdrift; T: M de Kock
Princess Victoria:
O: Mr P G de Beyer, Mrs G A Jaffee, Ms MH, RC and LH Jaffee, Dr  W A and Mrs N Jacobs; B: Maine Chance; T: G Kotzen
Thunder Dance:
O: Klawervlei Nom J Koster; I W Longmore; B: Klawervlei Stud; T: B Crawford
Viva Maria:
O: Lammerskraal Stud: MLP Rattray; B: Lammerskraal Stud; T: M de Kock

Champion older male

Shea Shea:
O: M C Berzack, B Joffee; B: Klawervlei Stud; T: G Woodruff
Smanjemanje:
O: G Barker, KP and NM Backos; B: Summerhill Stud; T: T Zackey
What a Winter:
O: M W Bass, Bryn Ressell, G N Shirtliff and N M Shirtliff; B: Daytona Stud; T: M W Bass

Champion Older filly/ mare

Dancewiththedevil:
O-B-T: St John Gray
Ebony Flyer:
O: Mrs G A Rupert, Mr B Irwin, Mrs Vanashree & Mr Anant Singh; B: WJ Engelbrecht; T: J Snaith
Europa Point:
O: Mrs M Slack; B: bred in Ireland; T: M de Kock
Igugu:
O: Mr and Mrs A Macdonald, Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa al Maktoum; B: bred in Australia; T: M F de Kock
Val de Ra:
O: Mr M J B Taberer; B: Avontuur Farm; T: D R Drier

Champion sprinter

Delago Deluxe:
O: MJ and Mrs I Jooste; B: bred in Australia; T: CS Laird
Shea Shea:
O: M C Berzack, B Joffe; B: Klawervlei Stud; T: G Woodruff
Val de Ra:
O: MJB Taberer; B: Avontuur Farm; T: D R Drier
What a Winter:
O: M W Bass, Bryn Ressell, G N Shirtliff & N M Shirtliff; B: Daytona Stud; T: M W Bass

Champion middle distance

Dancewiththedevil:
O-B-T: St John Gray
Europa Point:
O: Mrs M Slack; B: bred in Ireland; T: M de Kock
Igugu:
O: Mr and Mrs A Macdonald, Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa al Maktoum; B: bred in Australia; T: M F de Kock
Jackson:
O: I W Longmore, WJC Mitchell; B: Highlands; T: B Crawford
Pomodoro:
O-B: CJH van Niekerk; T: S Tarry
Princess Victoria:
O: Mr PG de Beyer, Mrs GA Jaffee, M/s MH, RC and LH Jaffee, Dr WA and Mrs N Jacobs; B: Maine Chance; T: G S Kotzen
Variety Club:
O: MJ and Mrs I Jooste; B: Beaumont Stud; T: J Ramsden

Champion stayer

Blake:
O: D L Brugman, R W Deacon, R Kay, Mrs I M Rudden; B: Pee Bee Stud; T: D Kannemeyer
Gorongosa:
O: Mrs M Slack; B: bred in Ireland; T: M de Kock
In Writing:
O: Fieldspring Racing (J Newsome); B: bred in Argentina; T: D Kannemeyer
Pomodoro:
O-B: CJH van Niekerk; T: S Tarry
Royal Bencher:
O: M C Gerber; B: Varsfontein Stud; T: A G Laird
Seal:
O: Grant Douglas; B: IR Heyns; T: G van Zyl

Horse of the year

Will be decided at the time of final voting.

Photo: Soft Falling Rain, Equus nominee.