Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Superhorse MIRACLE MAN and Supreme Ventures Limited won the top awards at last night's 18th annual None Such /Horse of the Year Awards Dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

MIRACLE MAN, unbeaten in nine starts locally (all in graded stakes trophy races) in 2006 and did Jamaica proud with a historic victory in the US$100,000 Confraternity Classic in Puerto Rico, on December 9, capped the 'Horse of the Year' award for the second consecutive year for owner/breeder, Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany.

MIRACLE MAN, who won the prestigious award by unanimous acclaim, picked up additional awards as champion middle distance performer, champion stayer, champion four-year-old-and-up and champion local bred horse.

A powerfully built chestnut colt by Law Of The Sea out of Hya, MIRACLE MAN is trained by veteran 'Hall of Famer', Allan 'Billy' Williams, and groomed by Anthony McLeod.

Significant contribution

Supreme Ventures, on the other hand, won the coveted None Such Award given to a person or institution which has made significant contribution to the development of horse racing in Jamaica.

The lottery company is the foremost sponsor of racing at Caymanas Park, thanks to their high-powered sponsorship of the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) and the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes over 1600 metres on Boxing Day, not to mention their whopping $7.5 million contribution to the Supreme Ventures two-year-old series comprising three races.

QUIET STRENGTH, who passed away in August after winning six of his seven races in 2006, was named first runner-up to the Horse of the Year, while his stable-companion, the 2004 'Horse of the Year, DISTINCTLY IRISH was second runner-up.

QUIET STRENGTH, who was trained by 14-time champion, Philip Feanny, at the time of his death, also won awards as champion sprinter and champion foreign-bred horse.

The classy American-bred colt was owned by Richard Lake of Lakeland Farms Limited.

The Feanny-trained RUM TALK was named champion two-year-old and Noel Ennevor's ALLIEDFORCE, winner of the Lotto Classic and St. Leger, champion three-year-old.

Other awardees

Other non-statistical awards went to:

Gary Subratie (most improved trainer) for the second time, having won it previously in 2001;

Oneil Mullings (most improved jockey) and UNTOUCHABLE (claimer of the year).

Trinidadian Brian Harding, who was absent, capped the champion jockey award for the second straight year,

Wayne DaCosta (champion trainer)

Howard Hamilton (champion owner)

HAM Stables Limited (champion breeder)

Royal Minister (champion sire)

Hya (champion broodmare)

Carlton Malcolm and Javour Simpson (joint champion apprentices)

Keino Martin, who was attached to the stables of trainers Donovan Bruce and Robert Darby Sr. in 2006 (champion groom).