Saint Cecelia is Horse of the Year 2011

HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com

Thursday, February 16, 2012

SAINT Cecelia was yesterday named Horse of the Year 2011 by Caymanas Track Limited after copping three other category awards ahead of Mark My Word and Commanding Chief.

St Cecelia, a six-year-old chestnut filly by Burning Marque out of She's On Wheels and trained by Spencer Chung, was voted Champion Local Bred; Champion Sprinter and Champion Middle distance Performer.

Incidentally, 2010 Horse of the Year Mark My Word captured the Champion Four-Year-Old and Up category, which included none other than Saint Cecelia.

Saint Cecelia, owned by Stephen and Valentine Chung, was selected amongst 18 committee members, including racing officials and journalists.

The outstanding filly won six races from nine starts including the Caribbean Sprint Championship, Gold Cup and the None Such Stakes for earnings of $4.9m. She has now earned over $13m from 25 starts inclusive of 14 wins.

Meanwhile, Richard Azan's five-year-old Mark My Word by Market Rally out of Miss Chestnut, also copped the Champion Stayer Award with earnings of $6.3m inclusive of five wins from nine starts, including the ultra-rich Super Stakes over 2,000m.

Mismyrtleboyrichie was the Champion Foreign Bred, while champion trainer Wayne DaCosta's Blast Them Away by Proud Accolade out of Evita Villa is the Champion Two-Year-Old winning four from four with earnings of $1.8m.

Veteran Noel Ennevor's Phillistia was the Best Two-Year-Old filly.

St Leger winner Commanding Chief was voted the Champion Three-Year-old with five wins from nine starts for earning of $5.3m.

Mismyrtleboyrichie was the Best Three-Year-Old Sprinter, while Dance So Sweet was the Best Three-Year-Old filly.

Wayne DaCosta captured his 10th Trainer's title with 69 wins and stakes of $48m, just falling short of his 2010 mark of 75 wins and $50m.

Patrick Lynch was the Most Improved trainer after finishing sixth with 26 wins and over $15m in earnings. In 2010, he won just 18 races and earned $9m for 11th place.

Panamanian Dick Cardenas won the Jockey's title with 103 winners with stakes earning of $62m ahead of Shane Ellis and Omar Walker.

Cardenas was also voted the Most Improved Rider after winning 64 races in 2011 for third spot.

Richard Mairs was the Champion Apprentice with 36 winners and finished seventh overall with little over $19m in earnings.

Everton Russell was the Champion Groom; Royal Minister won Matchem Award for Champion Sire while Sea Treaty was the Champion Broodmare.

Ham Stables was the Champion Breeder and Elite Bloodstock Limited the Champion Owner.