The 2024 Equus Awards logs have been updated following the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge race day on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville, and the running of the Gr3 Jubilee Stakes at Turffontein Racecourse on Sunday.
There are two more marquee race days on the South African racing calendar which can still make an impact to the following categories, and the Hollywoodbets Durban July and Gold Cup Race meetings should settle a few debates.
Gimme Another remains in the lead for the 2024 Equus Awards Horse Of The Year (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Horse Of The Year
Gimme A Nother (104) still holds a lead on the Equus Horse of the Year log. In fact, three-year-olds take up three of the top four positions on the points table at this stage of the season.
The unbeaten Gimme A Nother added a 2nd Gr1 win to her impressive record after winning the TAB Gr1 Empress Club Stakes. She had already won the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic which along with her wins in the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, Mike De Kock Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge and Betway Gr3 Fillies Mile which gives her a total of 104 points so far this season.
Green With Envy (98) has added to his points tally and has moved into contention for the top spot. He added to his impressive SplashOut Gr1 Derby win with wins in the World Sports Betting Gr2 Guineas and Daily NewsGr1 2000m.
Thunderstruck (90) has accumulated the 3rd highest points so far. He showed great determination in winning the Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Computaform Sprint. He has accumulated points for his 2nd in the World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship as well as for his win in the Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes.
Main Defender (84) won the Gr1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut which earned him 48 points due to this Weight For Age race being awarded Super Gr1 status. He also accumulated points for winning three other Graded races so far this season namely, the Betway Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge, the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes as well as the Betway Gr3 Got The Greenlight Stakes.
Champion Three-Year-Old Male
Green With Envy (98) takes a clear lead in the Champion Three-Year-Old Colt standings with Main Defender (84) in 2nd place, closely followed by TAB SA Gr1 Derby and TAB SA Gr1 Classic winner Purple Pitcher (80) in 3rd spot.
Sandringham Summit (74) is in 4th place with the TAB Gr2 Hawaii Stakes as well as the TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas wins to his credit so far this season.
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
Gimmer A Nother holds a clear lead in the Champion three-year-old filly category and has accumulated 104 points so far, she has won two Gr1 races along with two Gr2 races and a Gr3 race.
Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Beach Bomb (80) is currently in second spot, she also accumulated points for her Grade 1 SplashOut Cape Derby runner-up finish.
Silver Sanctuary (76) was rewarded for her consistency when landing the Gr1 Woolavington and now finds herself in 3rd place on the standings.
Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship and World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas winner Rascova (60) is in 4th place.
Champion Older Male
Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Thunderstruck leads the standing for the Champion Older Male category with 90 points followed by World Pool Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge and Betway Gr1 Summer Cup winner Royal Victory on 80 points.
Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge winner Dave The King, added 48 points to his tally for this WFA race that has been awarded Super Gr1 status and moves up into 3rd spot on 78 points.
World Sports Betting Gr2 Green Point Stakes winner See It Again added 12 points for his 3rd place finish in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge and overtakes L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate winner Charles Dickens (64) in 4th spot.
Champion Older Female
City Of Capetown Gr1 Majorca Stakes winner Princess Calla (60) is a clear leader of the Champion Older Female category from Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint runner-up and Gr2 Camellia Stakes winner Mrs Browning (40).
Gr1 Woolavington runner-up Hold My Hand (26) is currently in 3rd place followed by Jo’burg Gr2 Spring Challenge winner Feather Boa (24) and Humdinger (24) in joint 4th.
Distance Categories (excludes points from races restricted to 3-year-olds)
Champion Sprinter
Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Computaform and Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem winner Thunderstruck leads the Champion Sprinter category. He has accumulated 80 points, which is lower than his overall total due to this category being a distance specific category.
October Morn and Lucky Lad have both moved up the standings to joint 2nd with 52 points each after their Gr1 successes in the SA Fillies Sprint and Golden Horse Sprint respectively.
World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship winner Dyce is in 4th spot with 48 points.
Champion Miler
Dave The King takes the lead as he did when winning the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge to head the Champion Miler category having now accumulated 72 points in total.
Main Defender (68) finds himself in 2nd place after disappointing in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge, his accumulated points for this distance specific category is lower than his overall points tally due to this category excluding the points accumulated in 3-year-old only races.
The retired Charles Dickens (64) is in 3rd place on the standings followed by World Sports Betting Gr2 Green Point Stakes winner See It Again (60).
Champion Middle Distance
Multiple Gr1 winner Royal Victory (80 points) leads the Champion Middle Distance category with his two Gr1 wins over the distance of 2000m.
World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met winner Double Superlative (48) is in 2nd place ahead of Beach Bomb and Silver Sanctuary in joint 3rd with 32 points each.
Champion Stayer
Crimson King joins Master Redoute at the top of the Champion Stayers category with 10 points each after winning the Listed TAB Gold Bowl to add to his Listed WSB Aquanaut Handicap.
Master Redoute won the New Turf Carriers Gr3 Cape Stayers Handicap, Triple Time (9) is in 3rd place, marginally ahead of Gr3 Chairmans Cup winner Future Swing on 8 points.
Champion Two-Year-Old Male
Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Proceed leads the Champion Two-Year-Old standings with 40 points after his win on 01 June 2024.
Winds Of Change, One Stripe, Cosmic Speed and TAB SA Gr2 Nursery winner Fire Attack share 2nd place with 16 points each.
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
Gr1 Allan Robertson Stakes winner Quid Pro Quo leads the Champion Two-year-Old Filly log with 32 points after her success on 01 June 2024.
Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Little Ballerina is in 2nd place with 18 points, ahead of Rodeo Drive and Just Reckless who share 3rd place with 16 points each.
The 2024 Equus Awards will take place on Thursday, 15 August at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Enquiries regarding the 2024 Equus Awards can be directed to Vicky Minott at [email protected]
For more information on categories, nominees, and logs, click on the image below:
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- Media release by Cape Racing on 10 June 2024
