MIKE de Kock-trained Entisaar, Alboran Sea and Wild One were adjudged the winners of respective categories at Tuesday night’s Equus Awards banquet at Emperors Palace to celebrate the South African horseracing season’s star performers for 2014/15.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai’s Entisaar was crowned Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. A winner of three of her four starts, she lifted the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship at Scottsville in May.
Alboran Sea, owned by the partnership of Mary Slack and Michael Javett, was announced Champion Three-Year-old Filly following her wins in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship and the Gr1 Computaform Sprint.
Rejuvenated Wild One, the recent winner of the Gr1 e-lan Property Group Gold Cup, was awarded Champion Stayer of the Season. He is owned by Sean Philips, whose racing fortunes did an about turn when he decided to buy back Wild One at his own dispersal sale earlier this year.
Speaking from Mauritius last night, Mike de Kock said: “The winners have done us proud and I am delighted for all the winning connections whose continued investments in racing and my stable is deeply appreciated and their awards thoroughly deserved.”
Multiple Gr1 winner Futura walked off with the prestigious Horse Of The Year title. Futura is the third son of Dynasty to lift the title after Legislate last year, and Irish Flame in 2009/10.
Multiple champion jockey Piere Strydom, who rode a recordbreaking 5000th winner earlier in the season, was deservedly acknowledged with a special achievement award for his incredible feats in the saddle.
Here is the list of winners:
Seventh Plain
Entisaar (AUS)
French Navy
Alboran Sea (AUS)
Futura
Hammie’s Hooker
Captain Of All
Legislate
Futura
Wild One
Piere Strydom
Captain Al
Si Senorita
Klawervlei Stud
Dynasty
Highlands Farm Stud
Print – Michael Clower
Television – Kevin Harris
Craig Zackey
Gavin Lerena
Sean Tarry
Mrs I & Mr M J Jooste
Futura
Headline photo: Mathew de Kock receives the trophy for Alboran Sea on behalf of her owners, Mary Slack and Michael Javett, awarded by Robert Mauvis of Gold Circle. (JC Photos)