A Gr1 winner of the Empress Club Stakes, Middlefield Stud’s Byword filly comes up against last season’s reigning horse of the year, Oh Susanna (AUS) in the category of Champion Older Female, distance immaterial.
Camphoratus won a Gr1 this season over Oh Susanna, as well as taking the Gr3 Flamboyant in December. She beat Oh Susanna fair and square in the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes, a race the general public felt Oh Susanna would have wrapped up before she even put a foot on the track. The race ended with two #kznbreds fighting it out to the finish – Camphoratus on the railing with Running Brave challenging.
Camphoratus, out of an imported Horse Chestnut mare, gave jockey Gareth Wright his first Gr1 win.
Other contenders with KZN links include the super half-brothers Hawwaam and Rainbow Bridge who are nominated for numerous awards – both of their grand-parents, the great Jet Master and Pas De Basque both #kznbred, and their dam, Halfway To Heaven, has to no doubt be crowned Broodmare Of The Year – her sons winning 5 Gr1’s in a single season is an outstanding accomplishment.
Jet Master, a multiple champion sire 5 times previously, has been crowned champion Broodmare Sire of the season.
Two other horses with KZN links include Chimichuri Run, out of Greenhill-bred Gr1 winning mare by Kahal, Spiced Gold. He has been nominated for Champion Sprinter and Champion 3YO Colt.
Captain Of All, out of Robert Smith-bred Fard mare Serious Side who is a #kznbred, has taken the accolade of Champion first season 2yo sire, in a narrow margin from Vercingetorix.
The 2019 Equus Awards takes place on 13 August at Emperors Palace. Congratulations to the nominees!