The Mike de Kock-trained US-bound Gimme A Nother was crowned Horse Of The Season at the 2024 Highveld Feature Season Awards held at The Galleria in Sandton on Saturday evening.
The event, with Benni Langa as MC, honoured and celebrated the achievements of the stars of the Highveld Feature season, which ended with the Championships Finale at Turffontein on Saturday 27 April.
Di de Kock holds the Gimme A Nother Trophy (Pic – JC Photos)
The 3yo Gimme A Nother, unbeaten in her seven starts, was along with fellow sophomore Purple Pitcher and Royal Victory, one of a trio of dual Gr1 winners during the Highveld Season, and was a deserved winner of the major title.
In addition to her two Gr1 successes, the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight won two Gr2’s, and a Gr3. She was also crowned Champion 3yo Filly.
Both Purple Pitcher and Royal Victory were acknowledged, the latter winning two trophies on the evening.
The Robyn Klaasen-trained New Predator colt Purple Pitcher was a model of consistency and was crowned Champion Stayer. Beaten only once in his last eight starts, he won all of the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic, the Gr1 TAB SA Derby Jonsson Workwear Gr2 Dingaans.
The happy Royal Victors! (Pic – JC Photos)
The Nathan Kotzen-trained Pathfork gelding Royal Victory (he runs at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday) was crowned Champion Older Horse and Champion Middle Distance Horse, due recognition for winning the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup and the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge. The KZN raider made a name for himself on the Highveld and is set to take his place in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
The Tony Peter-trained Pathfork gelding Main Defender has been a standout of his generation on the Highveld and a newsmaker of some proportions.
Team Main Defender were there in numbers to proudly accept their award (Pic – JC Photos)
He was crowned Champion 3yo Colt/ Gelding after winning the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes, the Betway Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge, the Betway Gr3 Graham Back Stakes the Betway Gr3 Got The Green Light Stakes. Off a rating of 131, he is the highest rated galloper on the Highveld.
The Sean Tarry-trained Thunderstruck won his Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint prep race at Turffontein on Saturday and was crowned Champion Sprinter. The son of Rafeef was triumphant in the Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Computaform Sprint, and also won the Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes down South.
Piere Strydom accepted Thunderstruck’s award from Fundi Sithebe and Charles Savage (Pic – JC Photos)
The Candice Dawson-trained Vercingetorix filly Little Ballerina was crowned Champion 2yo Filly after a great season, capped by her victory in the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Nursery, while Alec Laird’s Fire Away colt Fire Attack was awarded the Champion 2yo Colt / Gelding trophy following his big win in the TAB Gr2 SA Nursery.
Something of a perennial bridesmaid, but winner of the Betway Gr2 Joburg Spring (F&M) Challenge, the exported Flower Alley filly Feather Boa galloped off with the Champion Older Filly/Mare title.
The human awards were straightfiorward, with Mike de Kock and Richard Fourie, on the cusp of his 300th winner this term, the champion trainer and jockey respectively, while Jessica Jell’s Mauritzfontein was the champion owner.
All the winners:
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly:
Little Ballerina
Champion Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding:
Fire Attack
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly:
Gimme A Nother
Champion Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding:
Main Defender
Champion Older Filly/Mare:
Feather Boa
Champion Older Horse:
Royal Victory
Champion Sprinter:
Thunderstruck
Champion Middle Distance Horse:
Royal Victory
Champion Stayer:
Purple Pitcher
Champion Work Rider:
Anathi Feni
Champion Apprentice:
Malesela Katjedi
Champion Breeder of the Season:
Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein
Champion Owner of the Season:
Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs JB Jell)
Champion Jockey of the Season:
Richard Fourie
Champion Trainer of the Season:
Mike de Kock
Horse Of The Season:
Gimme A Nother
