Public voting for the Equus Awards closed today on what is one of the most competitive national title races in some time.
The cat was set amongst the pigeons at last weekend’s World Pool Gold Cup racemeeting and particularly in the Equus Horse Of The Year category where Sean Tarry’s Princess Calla registered an impressive win in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup.
A nominee in the Champion Sprinter category, her win last Sunday was over 1800m and saw her leading he Equus Horse Of The Year points table.
Flashback – SA Horse Of The Year recipients on behalf of Captain’s Ransom in 2022 – Basie and Suzette Viljoen, seen with Jonathan Snaith
She is also the only horse to have won three Gr1s last season, and would be the second consecutive member of the fairer sex to win the premier title after Captain’s Ransom clinched it in 2022.
Each of Charles Dickens and Princess Calla have won an open weight-for-age Gr 1, while Charles Dickens and See It Again each have an age restricted Gr1 to their credit, while Princess Calla has two sex-restricted Gr1s to her name. The amazing mare also won three Gr2’s, including one against the boys by 5,25 lengths.
Public votes count a third towards the final decision.
The final awards ceremony will take place at Emperor’s Palace on 23 August 2023.
