The East Cape Racing Awards were held at Fairview Racecourse on Saturday evening with gallant Var mare Star Burst Galaxy lifting the Regional Horse Of The Year honours as well as the Champion Older Mare accolade.
Bred by Ian Heyns, Star Burst Galaxy is out of the three-time winning Majestic Star (Doowaley).
She is a half-sister to Justin Snaith’s promising 2017 Gr3 Victress Stakes winner, Star Express.
Originally purchased by Mayfair Speculators off the 2015 Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale for R800 000, she changed hands recently following the unbundling of the former SA champion owners.
Trained by Tara Laing, Star Burst Galaxy raced for Cape-based Etienne Braun and Paul Loomes, who resides in KZN. She has been retired to stud.
Gail Rheeder accepts the Champion Poytrack Mare award for Meritocracy from Larry Wainstein in the absence of the Yvette Bremner yard (Pic – Paulne Herman Photography)
CHAMPION 2YO OLD FILLY
Madame Speaker
CHAMPION 2YO COLT/GELDING
Alfeo
CHAMPION 3YO OLD FILLY
Widow’s Lamp
CHAMPION 3YO OLD COLT/GELDING
Sabbatical
CHAMPION OLDER FILLY/MARE
Star Burst Galaxy
CHAMPION OLDER COLT/GELDING
Stormy Eclipse
CHAMPION SPRINTER
Exelero
CHAMPION STAYER
Desert Wisdom
CHAMPION POLY TRACK FILLY/MARE
Meritocracy
Miracle Bureau got the Champion PolytrackGelding award – Peter Naidoo hands the awar to trainer Tara Laing (3rd left) and Juhanay van der Berg and workrider Justine King (Pic – Pauline Herman Photography)
CHAMPION POLY TRACK COLT/GELDING
Miracle Bureau
CHAMPION JOCKEY
Greg Cheyne
CHAMPION JOCKEY (Local)
Teaque Gould
CHAMPION APPRENTICE
Lyle Hewitson
CHAMPION WORKRIDER
B Nkunzi
CHAMPION GROOM
N Mkalali
CHAMPION TRAINER
Alan Greeff
CHAMPION OWNER
Mayfair Speculators
HORSE OF THE YEAR
Star Burst Galaxy
