Fred Crabbia. Leading Owner
Reigning Singapore Horse of the Year, Super Easy, emulated Rocket Man in being crowned the circuit’s champion galloper for the second successive year at Thursday night’s Singapore Racing Awards.
The evening also saw popular SA owner Fred Crabbia being crowned owner of the year by number of wins, and the former Mike De Kock trained Lizzare crowned Champion Older Horse. The son of Jet Master won the 2009 KZN Guineas Trial at Greyville and was bred by West Coast breeder Willempie Engelbrecht Jnr. He is trained by Pat Shaw.
But the star of the show was the retired equine star Super Easy who beat a strong field for the coveted title, including stablemate Super Ninetyseven and top mare Better Life, both champions in their own right.
World-beater Rocket Man was Singapore’s champion horse in 2010 and 2011.
Owned by champion owner (by stakes won) Joy N Happiness Stable and trained by Michael Freedman, Super Easy was the only contender with a Group 1 double last year, winning the Lion City Cup over 1,200m and the Patron’s Bowl over 1,600m.
From three other starts, he was third in the International Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint, Group 2 Stewards’ Cup and Group 3 Merlion Trophy.
Unfortunately, the well-bred New Zealand entire had his career cut short with a ruptured tear in his suspensory ligament after winning the Patron’s Bowl last June.
Super Easy on his way to victory in the Patron’s Bowl, his last win before retirement.
The $2.1 million stakes earner has since taken up a stud career.
Super Easy was also voted Champion Sprinter.
Stablemate Super Ninetyseven, who raced 10 times last season for five wins, including the Group 1 Raffles Cup and the Group 3 Committee’s Prize and recorded two of his wins in record time, walked away with Champion Miler title.
Like Super Easy, Better Life also received two awards – Champion Four-Year-Old and Champion Stayer.
Owned by Suzuka Racing Stable and trained by Hideyuki Takaoka, the retired mare raced only four times last year but captured the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby and the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.
The 2013 Singapore Racing Awards ceremony was held at the Royal Pavilion Ballroom of The Regent Hotel on Thursday night.
The voting panel comprised the Singapore Turf Club’s handicappers and members of the print and broadcast media.
THE 2013 ROLL OF HONOUR
Horse of the Year: Super Easy
Champion Two-Year-Old: War Affair
Champion Three-Year-Old: StepItUp
Champion Four-Year-Old: Better Life
Champion Older Horse: Lizzare
Champion Sprinter: Super Easy
Champion Miler: Super Ninetyseven
Champion Stayer: Better Horse
Champion Polytrack Horse: Davide
Most Improved Horse: Street Legal
Racing Media Award (English): Gary Crispe
Racing Media Award (Chinese): Kuah Siew Hong
Champion Trainer: Laurie Laxon
Champion Jockey: Joao Moreira
Champion Apprentice: A’Isisuhairi Kasim
Leading Owner by number of wins: Fred Crabbia
Leading Owner by stakes won: Joy N Happiness Stable
