This announcement took place at the prestigious Equus Awards, known at the ‘Oscars’ of South African horse racing, held at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg on Tuesday night.
Gavin Lerena has been announced as the 2014/15 horseracing season’s Champion Jockey of the Year after his impressive 220 wins with S’manga Khumalo coming second with 198.
The experienced and brilliant Piere ‘Striker’ Strydom who has
won the Champion Jockey title six times and achieved 5 000 wins, a
milestone unmatched by any jockey in the history of South African
horseracing, was presented with a Special Achievement Award.
Kevin Harris, the independent filmmaker who wrote and directed the documentary entitled “To Be a Champion’ which tells the story of S’manga Khumalo’s journey to become one of the country’s greatest jockeys, was awarded the media award for television. This documentary premiered at last month’s Durban International Film Festival powered by Racing. It's a Rush!
The Sean Tarry-trained French Navy was awarded Champion three year old colt with Tarry himself winning Champion Trainer, recording a brand new high in stakes earned in one season by any trainer. Tarry earned in excess of R25 million in stakes during the season.
Tarry and Strydom were not the only record breaking
recipients, Ingrid and Markus Jooste were crowned Champion Owners of the Season
for the eighth consecutive year, they too earned a remarkable new high in
stakes of over R20 million!
List of awards presented:
CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD COLT (DISTANCE IMMATERIAL)
Seventh Plain
CHAMPION TWO YEAR FILLY (DISTANCE IMMATERIAL)
Entisaar (AUS)
CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD COLT(DISTANCE IMMATERIAL)
French Navy
CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD FILLY (DISTANCE IMMATERIAL)
Alboran Sea (AUS)
CHAMPION OLDER MALE (DISTANCE IMMATERIAL)
Futura
CHAMPION OLDER FILLY/MARE (DISTANCE IMMATERIAL)
Hammie’s Hooker
CHAMPION SPRINTER (1 000-1 200 METRES; AGE/GENDER IMMATERIAL)
Captain Of All
CHAMPION MILER (1 400-1 600; AGE/GENDER IMMATERIAL)
Legislate
CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE HORSE (1 800-2 200 METRES; AGE/GENDER IMMATERIAL)
Futura
CHAMPION STAYER (2400 METRES UPWARDS; AGE/GENDER IMMATERIAL)
Wild One
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Piere Strydom
CHAMPION STALLION
Captain Al
CHAMPION BROODMARE
Si Senorita
CHAMPION BREEDER
Klawervlei Stud
OUTSTANDING STALLION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dynasty
OUTSTANDING BREEDER AWARD
Highlands Farm Stud
MEDIA AWARDS
Print – Michael Clower
Television – Kevin Harris
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Craig Zackey
CHAMPION JOCKEY
Gavin Lerena
CHAMPION TRAINER
Sean Tarry
OWNER OF THE YEAR
Mrs I & Mr M J Jooste
HORSE OF THE YEAR
Futura