Supporters of Legal Eagle had their hopes boosted for tomorrow evening’s Equus Horse of the Year Award when he was voted the winner of the Cape Breeders’ version at a dinner near Stellenbosch last Wednesday.
But the Western Province chapter of the Racing Association also gives its awards at the function and in this one Legal Eagle was usurped for the premier prize by Captain America. It might have been a surprise to some but it was greeted with cheers by those involved with the Gold Challenge winner, and Lance Sherrell led the charge to the stage displaying much of the gusto and dash he used to reserve for rugby internationals.
Legal Eagle (Liesl King)
As Cape Breeders deputy chairman James Armitage pointed out, Western Cape-bred horses won the vast majority of last season’s 30 Grade 1 races (Klawervlei alone bred the winners of seven of them) and nearly half went to horses sired by Captain Al, Dynasty or Silvano.
Derek Brugman, accepting the owner of the year award on behalf of Mayfair Speculators, predicted: “One day when we start exporting you guys will reap the rewards you deserve.”
But he also pointed to the recent increase in stakes saying: “Three years ago we raced for R56 million and this year we raced for R96 million. We are going to keep pushing and we are aiming for R150 million.”
The huge prize money on offer in sales restricted races has played a major part in the increase but it was Brett Crawford who dominated the awards, with horses trained by him winning six of them. He himself was presented with an exceptional achievement award.
Similarly honoured was Candice Bass-Robinson for becoming the first of her sex to train a Durban July winner and for having such a sensational first season. “I got lucky this year,” she said modestly but the audience rose to their feet just as they had done for her father 12 months earlier. To cap it all last Wednesday was her birthday as well as National Women’s Day.
Justin Snaith, who pipped Crawford for the champion Cape trainer award, caused some amusement by recalling his first few years with a licence “when we used to go to the smaller breeders to pick from the chuck-out paddocks.”
Charles Faull was presented in his absence with a special service industry award and John Koster, accepting Klawervlei’s breeder of the year award, reported that Captain Al’s stable at the stud is to be turned into a museum to honour the outstanding stallion.
He added: “They say a great horse will change your life and a special horse will define it – and that is exactly what happened with us and Captain Al. He was our hero.”
– Triple Grade 1 winner Bela-Bela will start her stud career by visiting Gimmethegreenlight.
By Michael Clower
