Europe can expect slim pickings in Eclipse Awards
Andre Fabre’s Breeders' Cup Turf winner Shirocco is the only European-trained horse to be announced as one of the 45 finalists in the 15 categories for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s annual awards.
In the last few years the ceremony has seen triumphs for transatlantic raiders High Chaparral, Ouija Board, Islington, Johannesburg, Fantastic Light and Kalanisi.
German-bred Shirocco, which defeated Aidan O’Brien’s Ace and John Oxx’s Azamour to take the Breeder’s Cup Turf race at Belmont Park in New York last October, was nominated in the Male turf horse category but faces stiff competition from Breeders' Cup Mile winner Artie Schiller.
Leroidesanimaux is the other finalist in the category.
Former Fabre charge Intercontinental provides further, albeit tenuous European interest, having been nominated for the female turf horse award after winning the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, while the Michael Tabor-owned Adieu, trained in the US by Todd Pletcher, is up for the two-year-old filly award.
The relatively minor steeplechase award features Hirapour, the 10-year-old Irish-bred chaser whose early Flat career was handled by Dermot Weld and then Amanda Perrett. Hirapour, now US-based, is defending the title having won last September’s New York Turf Writers Handicap but is up against McDynamo, the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase winner.
Breeders' Cup Classic winner Saint Liam and Belmont and Preakness Stakes champion Afleet Alex are the two leading contenders for Horse of the Year, the top prize on offer at the black-tie awards dinner on January 23.
Finalists for Horse of the Year are not announced by the NTRA, to avoid tipping off which horses are the favourites for their divisional honours.
:
Two-year-old male: First Samurai, Henny Hughes, Stevie Wonderboy
Two-year-old filly: Adieu, Folklore, Wild Fit
Three-year-old male: Afleet Alex, Flower Alley, Giacomo
Three-year-old filly: Round Pond, Smuggler, Summerly
Older male: Borrego, Rock Hard Ten, Saint Liam
Older female: Ashado, Pleasant Home, Stellar Jayne
Sprinter: Lost in the Fog, Saratoga County, Silver Train
Male turf horse: Artie Schiller, Leroidesanimaux, Shirocco
Female turf horse: Cesario, Intercontinental, Megahertz
Steeplechaser: Hirapour, McDynamo, Sur la Tete
Owner: Michael Gill, Live Oak Plantation, Melnyk Racing Stables, Inc.
Breeder: Adena Springs, Edward P. Evans, Live Oak Stud
Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Robert Frankel, Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jerry Bailey, Edgar Proado, John Velazquez
Apprentice jockey: Channing Hill, Justin Stein, Emma-Jayne Wilson.
