Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer
MIRACLE MAN is led into the winners' enclosure by jockey Allen Maragh after his fighting victory in the season's final classic, the $2.5 million Jamaica St. Leger over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park on July 2, 2005. He had previously won the Derby and Governor's Cup to be the top contender for the 'Horse of the Year' award. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
VOTING FOR 'Horse of the Year' and other awards not determined by statistics takes place in the Director's Room at Caymanas Park today when Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) hosts its annual Horse of the Year luncheon at 12:30 p.m.
The 15-member 'Horse of the Year' committee, comprising members of the press and select racing officials, will also vote for first runner-up Horse of the Year, second runner-up as well as Champion Sprinter, Champion Middle Distance Performer, Champion Stayer, Champion 2-Y-O, Champion 3-Y-O, Champion Older Horse, Champion Local Bred, Champion Foreign Bred, Claimer of the Year, Most Improved Rider and Most Improved Trainer.
Top contender for 'Horse of the Year' is the Digicel Derby and Red Stripe Superstakes winner MIRACLE MAN, who is owned and bred by Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany, and trained by veteran 'Hall of Famer' Allan Billy' Williams.
LEADING STAKES WINNER
As a 3-Y-O in 2005, MIRACLE MAN not only won five races from nine starts including the Derby, Superstakes, St. Leger and Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup), but was by far the season's leading stakes winner with $7.7 million.
First runner-up will more than likely be the 2003 'Horse of the Year;' A KING IS BORN who won five races from seven starts and $3.2 million in stakes as a five-year-old.
Trained by Philip Feanny for owner Howard Hamilton, this outstanding horse by Royal Minister out of the 1990 Guineas and Derby winner Distinctly Native should also be crowned Champion Sprinter and Champion Middle Distance Performer.
Among his notable wins were the Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint, Lotto Sprint, She's on Wheels Trophy and Chairman's Trophy over 1500 metres on June 18 in near track record time of 1:29.4. A KING IS BORN recently retired to stud after losing the Gold Cup to Wayne DaCosta's American 3-Y-O colt CLOCK WORK, who looks a cinch for second runner-up and Champion Foreign Bred.
Richard Azan's RAMPAGE, a runaway winner of the Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over 1600 metres on Boxing Day, should win the Champion 2-Y-O award by unanimous acclaim.
MOST IMPROVED TRAINER
Nominees for the Most Improved Trainer award are Anthony 'Baba' Nunes who posted 65 winners and $22.5 million in stakes, Rowan Mathie 30 winners and $8.2 million in stakes, Patrick Fong 22 winners and $6.2 million and Lawrence Freemantle 20 winners and $3.9 in stakes.
Nominees for Most Improved Rider are Dalton Brown (33 wins), Dane Nelson (33), Kerry-Gayl Robinson (28) and Andron Findley (27), while the horses vying for Claimer of the Year are WIMBLEDON, RIZZI LEE, EMMVEEPEE, ZICKWARTY, TROPICAL STORM and FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE.
The champions already determined by statistics are Brian Harding (champion jockey), Wayne DaCosta (champion trainer), Alexander Haber (champion owner), Linval McFarlane (champion groom), Orange Valley Estates Limited (champion breeder), Royal Minister (champion sire) and Hya (champion broodmare). The awards will be announced at the annual None Such/Horse of the Year dinner on Thursday, February 16 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, St. Andrew.
