Chaparral is well fancied

HIGH CHAPARRAL is on course to successfully defend his US Turf Horse of the Year title after being short-listed for the prize in yesterday’s Eclipse Awards nominations.

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.