Despite finishing second in the only Grade 1 event of February, the Gr1 SplashOut Derby, Charles Dickens took the lead in the quest for 2023 Equus Horse of the Year honours.
His closest rival Jet Dark is now retired which will allow opportunity for Charles Dickens to build on his points tally and lead over the remainder of the season.
Charles Dickens – holds his lead at the top (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The only other contender to increase its points tally in February was leading sprinter Gimme A Prince, who finished second in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes increasing his points tally to 66 points.
Charles Dickens leads the Equus Horse of The Year table with 80 points, followed by Jet Dark (70), Gimme A Prince (66), Make It Snappy (64), Puerto Manzano (50), and Al Muthana and Desert Miracle, each on 48 points.
Racing action will concentrate on the Highveld in the next two months with horses participating in the Highveld Autumn Season likely to make major inroads into the points tables for each category.
Champion Three-Year-Old Colt
Charles Dickens (80 points) solidified his position at the top of the Champion Three-Year-Old colt log, whilst the winner of the Grade 1 SplashOut Cape Derby, See It Again, leapt to joint second position on the log with 32 points.
Cousin Casey (32 points – joint second) was not in action in the February period, while At My Command (26) and Royal Victory (18) increased their points and position on the log.
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
Despite not racing in February, Make It Snappy (64 points) remains firmly in control at the head of the Champion Three-Year-Old filly table.
Ciao Bella (32) remains in second spot despite not having raced in February, whilst Gimme A Shot (22) remains in third despite not having accumulated points in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas. The first two in that race, Lady Of Power (16) and Feather Boa (16), complete the table.
Champion Older Male and Female
Gimme A Prince (66 points – second) and Trip Of Fortune (39 points – fifth) improved their positions on the Champion Older Male Table in February. Jet Dark (70 points) remains at the top of the table with Puerto Manzano (50) and Al Muthana (48) completing the table.
Only Captain’s Ransom (36 points) added to her points tally on the Champion Older Female category in February, but this was not enough to displace leader Desert Miracle (46 points). Princess Calla (32), Humdinger (16), and Silver Darling (14) complete the table.
Distance Categories
Gimme A Prince (66 points) increased his lead in the Champion Sprinter category. Princess Calla (32) remains in second place, with new entrant Bereave (24), Rio Querari (20), and Stiptelik (12) making up the table.
There was no change to the Champion Miler Table with Al Muthana (48 points) in the lead from Desert Miracle (40), Trip Of Fortune (34), Charles Dickens (24), and Jet Dark (22).
The Champion Middle Distance category also remains unchanged with Jet Dark (48 points) leading from Puerto Manzano (42), Make It Snappy (32), Nexus (32), and Kommetdieding (24).
With no staying events in February the Champion Stayers table remains unchanged with Salvator Mundi (23 points) on top from Arumugam (12), Nebraas (10), Senso Unico (10), and Chrome Yellow (10).
Equus Awards 2023 – Points Tables to 28 February 2023
| Horse of the Year | Age | Sex | Pts |
| CHARLES DICKENS (SAF) | 3 | C | 80 |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 5 | H | 70 |
| GIMME A PRINCE (SAF) | 4 | G | 66 |
| MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF) | 3 | F | 64 |
| PUERTO MANZANO (ARG) | 5 | G | 50 |
| AL MUTHANA (AUS) | 5 | G | 48 |
| DESERT MIRACLE (SAF) | 4 | F | 46 |
| Champion Three-Year-Old Male | Age | Sex | Pts |
| CHARLES DICKENS (SAF) | 3 | C | 80 |
| SEE IT AGAIN (SAF) | 3 | C | 32 |
| COUSIN CASEY (SAF) | 3 | C | 32 |
| AT MY COMMAND (SAF) | 3 | C | 26 |
| ROYAL VICTORY (SAF) | 3 | G | 18 |
| Champion Three-Year-Old Female | Age | Sex | Pts |
| MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF) | 3 | F | 64 |
| CIAO BELLA (SAF) | 3 | F | 32 |
| GIMME A SHOT (SAF) | 3 | F | 22 |
| LADY OF POWER (SAF) | 3 | F | 16 |
| FEATHER BOA (SAF) | 3 | F | 16 |
| Champion Older Male | Age | Sex | Pts |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 5 | H | 70 |
| GIMME A PRINCE (SAF) | 4 | G | 66 |
| PUERTO MANZANO (ARG) | 5 | G | 50 |
| AL MUTHANA (AUS) | 5 | G | 48 |
| TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF) | 4 | G | 39 |
| Champion Older Female | Age | Sex | Pts |
| DESERT MIRACLE (SAF) | 4 | F | 46 |
| CAPTAIN’S RANSOM (SAF) | 5 | M | 36 |
| PRINCESS CALLA (SAF) | 5 | M | 32 |
| HUMDINGER (SAF) | 4 | F | 16 |
| SILVER DARLING (SAF) | 5 | M | 14 |
| Champion Sprinter | Age | Sex | Pts |
| GIMME A PRINCE (SAF) | 4 | G | 66 |
| PRINCESS CALLA (SAF) | 5 | M | 32 |
| BEREAVE (SAF) | 5 | G | 24 |
| RIO QUERARI (SAF) | 6 | G | 20 |
| STIPTELIK (AUS) | 4 | F | 12 |
| Champion Miler | Age | Sex | Pts |
| AL MUTHANA (AUS) | 5 | G | 48 |
| DESERT MIRACLE (SAF) | 4 | F | 40 |
| TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF) | 4 | G | 34 |
| CHARLES DICKENS (SAF) | 3 | C | 24 |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 5 | H | 22 |
| Champion Middle Distance | Age | Sex | Pts |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 5 | H | 48 |
| PUERTO MANZANO (ARG) | 5 | G | 42 |
| MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF) | 3 | F | 32 |
| NEXUS (SAF) | 7 | G | 32 |
| KOMMETDIEDING (SAF) | 5 | H | 24 |
| Champion Stayer | Age | Sex | Pts |
| SALVATOR MUNDI (SAF) | 5 | G | 23 |
| ARUMUGAM (SAF) | 4 | G | 12 |
| CROME YELLOW (SAF) | 8 | G | 10 |
| NEBRAAS (SAF) | 6 | G | 10 |
| SENSO UNICO (SAF) | 4 | G | 10 |
