Chaparral is well fancied
The Aidan O’Brien star landed the prestigious National Thoroughbred Racing Association prize in 2002 after his triple success with Mick Kinane as a three-year-old in the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and Breeders’ Cup Turf.
In November, High Chaparral became the first horse to win two Breeders’ Cup Turf races when dead-heating with Johar at Santa Anita and both horses have been named along with Storming Home in the Male Turf Horse category.
Irish-bred Islington, trained by Michael Stoute and ridden by Kieren Fallon to Filly & Mare Turf success at Santa Anita, was named among the finalists for the Female Turf Horse award alongside Pascal Bary’s French runner, Six Perfections, who claimed the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
The three finalists for the overall Horse of the Year award are Funny Cide and US multi-Group One winners Mineshaft and Congaree with the winner to be announced at the 2003 Eclipse Awards dinner on January 26 in Hollywood, Florida.
