Ouija Board in line for Eclipse award

Dual Oaks winner Ouija Board is in the running for two prestigious Eclipse Awards in the United States after finalists were announced today.

Ed Dunlop’s star, who won the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on her only start in the US in October, has been nominated for best three-year-old female and best female turf horse.

She faces tough competition in the former category as she is alongside Ashado, who won the Kentucky Oaks, the CCA Oaks and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, as well as Stellar Jayne, another Grade One winner.

In the turf section she is nominated with the former Andre Fabre-trained Intercontinental, winner of the Grade One Matriarch Stakes, and Ticker Tape, formerly with Jamie Osborne and also a winner of Grade Ones.

This category was won in 2003 by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Islington.

The winners will be announced at the televised 34th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony on January 24 in Beverly Hills, California.

Britain sent a two-horse team to the Breeders’ Cup at Lone Star Park in Texas in October and both won.

The Jeremy Noseda-trained Wilko, who took the Juvenile and is now in training in the US, has been nominated for an award in the two-year-old male category with Afleet Alex and Declan’s Moon.

The Eclipse Awards are presented by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers Association.