IT IS WRITTEN, ridden by champion jockey Omar Walker, wins the Mercury Sprint feature for maiden three-year-old colts and geldings over the straight five course at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. Owned by Esteban and trained by reigning champion Wayne DaCosta, the son of Footloose II-Under Thirty, won at odds of 5-2 on debut. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
The top achievers in the racing industry for 2008 will be honoured at the 20th annual None Such/Horse-of-the-Year awards dinner to be held on Thursday, February 12, at the Hilton Kingston hotel, New Kingston.
The coveted None Such award will once again be presented to a person or organisation whose lifetime endeavours in the field of thoroughbred racing have embodied excellence, innovation and leadership.
According to Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), this year marks the 50th anniversary of racing at Caymanas Park and the theme will be reflected in this and other major activities throughout its yearlong celebration.
Among those to be honoured are returning champion jockey (Omar Walker), trainer (Wayne DaCosta) and breeder (Henry W. Jaghai).
Meanwile, Purcell Keith has emerged the champion groom for 2008. A veteran in the sport, Keith, who is attached to the stables of Lawrence Freemantle, groomed 20 winners last season to win his first championship after plying his trade for 38 years.
Keith started out with the legendary female trainer Eileen Cliggott in the early '70s and when she retired from racing, he hooked up with trainer Freemantle over seven years ago.
Among his winning horses in 2008 were SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS, MARKET BRIDLE and MOST WANTED, all of whom won twice, along with GUIDING LIGHT, I AM PAID FOR, NUMERO UNO, JACK BE GOOD, JET BLASTER, WHEELS OF LAW and the lightly raced but promising three-year-old colt GHOST RAPPER, who could develop into a classic contender.
Alsafra ahead
With the 17-member 'Horse-of-the-Year' committee having completed balloting in the various categories, indications are that the classy filly ALSAFRA, who won the Triple Crown last year, will receive the top award.
Owned by Sherman Clachar and Norman Gordon and trained by Fitznahum Williams, ALSAFRA, who also won the Oaks as a three-year-old last year, should cap awards as champion three-year-old and champion native-bred horse as well.
The DaCosta-trained CHADMAN, who won a number of grade-one races, looks a shoo-in for champion foreign bred horse, as do the Percy Hussey-trained filly MISS RUTH for champion two-year-old, while the DaCosta-trained filly AHWHOFAH should receive the nod as champion sprinter.
ALLIIEDFORCE, who was unbeaten in four top-class races before being sidelined with injury for the last four months of 2008, could cap the champion stayer award ahead of Superstakes winner AD INFINITUM.
It should be a toss up between SATISFIER and AGUILA for claimer of the year, Dane Nelson and Devon A. Thomas for most improved jockey and Anthony 'Baba' Nunes and Freemantlle for most improved trainer.