With the conclusion of the Sydney carnival most all the big names of racing are headed for the paddock and that means it is time to assess The Roar’s Horse of the Year.
In the last 15 years, only one three-year-old has won the title of Australian Horse of the Year and that was Weekend Hustler in 2007/8.
But this year has been all about the bumper crop of three-year-olds who have continually defeated the older horses.
The award takes into account all racing since August 1st and is limited to five nominations. Due to the extremely competitive pool of horses to nominate from, some excellent horses have missed out.
The Melbourne Cup winner is normally an automatic nomination but Green Moon’s win in the Melbourne Cup and Turnbull Stakes are not enough this year.
Appearance, the winner of the three big Group 1 races for mares, The Myer Classic, Coolmore Classic and Queen of the Turf has also missed out on a nomination.
The biggest snub however may be Fiveandahalfstar who won the VRC Derby in the spring and came back to win autumn’s weight-for-age championship, The BMW.
Added to that, the three-year-old gelding also ran second in the WFA Australian Cup and Ranvet Stakes.
With only five nominations available for the award, the competiveness this year cannot be understated.
In alphabetical order, here are my nominations for the 2012/2013 Horse of the Year.
All Too Hard
Entering the season with the weight of the world on his shoulders, Black Caviar’s half-brother had an awful start to the season.
The colt started his spring in Sydney but had no luck in his first three starts. In his third start of the season, he took on the older horses for the first time in the Group 1 George Main Stakes but could finish no better than fourth.
Trainers Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes persisted the horse was still talented but doubts were building.
The son of Casino Prince had always been targeted at the Caulfield Guineas but received no love due to the short price of Pierro in the race. Taking full advantage of a poor ride by Nash Rawiller on Pierro, Dwayne Dunn stormed down the centre of the track to steal victory.
From there, All Too Hard went to the Cox Plate and delivered the run of his career where he looked the winner at the 150m mark before being pipped on the post by Ocean Park.
Returning in the autumn under a new owner, All Too Hard came back better and stronger and went straight to WFA class in the C.F Orr Stakes where he won his second Group 1. Two weeks later, the colt claimed his third in the Futurity Stakes in a star studded field.
A virus on the morning of the Group 1 Australian Guineas where he was unbeatable saw him scratched.
Recovering in time for the final Group 1 of the Sydney carnival, The All Aged Stakes, he meet champion More Joyous in a much anticipated showdown and came out on top in brilliant fashion.
Finishing the season with four Group 1 victories as well as running second in the Cox Plate, All Too Hard will be sorely missed as he prepares for retirement after Royal Ascot.
Black Caviar
Due to an injury sustained at Royal Ascot last year, the champion mare was ruled out of the spring.
Racing for the final season when she recovered in time for autumn, she lined up the race named in her honour, The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes where she claimed her 23rd straight victory.
She then went to Moonee Valley for the William Reid Stakes. At the Friday night meeting, 35,000 people gathered to see her run her final race in her home state of Victoria as she strolled home to win by four lengths.
The TJ Smith Stakes was eventually revealed to be her final race before she entered retirement. Undefeated in 25 starts which included 15 Group 1s, she overtook Kingston Town’s record for most Group 1 victories by and Australian horse.
Beyond what happens on the turf, Black Caviar has done amazing things for racing and that has been illustrated by the amount of people she has bought to the racetrack, many of whom have zero interest in racing.
Her season delivered three Group 1 victories where she destroyed all that lined up against her.
It’s A Dundeel
The New Zealand raider arrived in Australia in the spring and put together three victories together before being nominated for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes.
In one of the races of the carnival, he dogged it out all the way to the line against Priosir to claim his first Group 1.
From there, he looked the ideal Derby colt and trainer Murray Baker agreed. Lining up next in the Moonee Valley Vase, a big upset was caused when Super Cool gave It’s A Dundeel his first defeat.
The run was forgiven when he lined up in the Derby as the warm favourite but the quick pace of the race played against him and he finished a disappointing seventh.
Returning in the autumn, It’s A Dundeel became just the fifth horse to win the three-year-old triple crown by claiming Group 1 victories in the Ranwick Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and AJC Derby.
What was most impressive though was the dominance the High Chaparral colt won with.
Ridden hands and heels, he won the Rosehill Guineas by seven lengths and then streeted away with the AJC Derby by six lengths.
He then stepped up to WFA class for the first time in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes and started the clear favourite but was unfortunately undone again by a quickly run race.
Trying to close the big gap, he made ground from last but ran second behind Reliable Man by two and a half lengths.
Despite an unlucky end to the year, It’s A Dundeel was still phenomenal across both the spring and autumn delivering four Group 1 victories which included the three-year-old triple crown.
Ocean Park
Ocean Park had been briefly seen in Australia during this three-year-old season but no one knew how dominant he would become as a four-year-old.
Targeting the Cox Plate, trainer Garry Hennessy planned the traditional lead up through all the Group 1 WFA races.
Claiming the Group 1 Mafki Stakes back in his home country of New Zealand at the beginning of his preparation, he was then sent to Australia for the spring.
Winning the Underwood Stakes in his next start with a beautiful ride by Glen Boss, he went on to win the Caulfield Stakes in his next start from a fast-finishing Alcopop.
Finally the Cox Plate had arrived and despite winning all the lead up races, Ocean Park started second favourite behind Pierro.
Camped midfield most of the journey, Boss pulled out six wide as they entered the sharp Moonee Valley bend but had plenty of ground to make.
By the 200m mark, he had made ground but All Too Hard had gone to the front and had two lengths on Ocean Park.
Grinding away, Boss reduced the lead down to one length at the 100m mark and took the lead at the 50m mark to score by a head from All Too Hard.
Starting the short priced favourite a week later in the Mackinnon Stakes, the son of Thorn Park had come to the end of his preparation and ran third behind Alcopop.
Returning back to autumn racing in New Zealand, Ocean Park struggled in his first run but returned to form in the Group 1 New Zealand Stakes before jet-setting off to Dubai for the $5 million Dubai Duty Free.
An injury sustained in the Dubai Duty Free saw the Kiwi finish at the tail of the field and prompted immediate retirement.
Throughout the course of the season, Ocean Park claimed three Australian WFA Group 1s as well as two in New Zealand.
Pierro
The champion two-year-old from last season returned to racing in the same manner of dominance he showed as a juvenile.
Winning the Group 3 Run to the Rose in his first start, he travelled down to Melbourne for the first time in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes where he won comfortably by five lengths.
He entered the Caulfield Guineas undefeated in eight starts and was the unbackable favourite at the $1.20 mark.
Winning should have been a formality but an uncharacteristically poor ride by Nash Rawiller left Pierro labouring over the final 100m to be beaten by half a length.
By Lonhro, 2040m was always within Pierro’s capability and most had forgiven his poor run in the Caulfield Guineas enough for him to start favourite in the Cox Plate.
As they entered the straight, Pierro flew home down the outside to defeat highly talented horses but still finished third behind Ocean Park and All Too Hard.
Coming back in the autumn, he won the Group 1 Hobartville Stakes before Gai Waterhouse opted to step up against the older horses in WFA class.
Pierro’s next start came in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes where he met champion mare More Joyous. Running the Sydney direction, Pierro proved too strong and claimed his first WFA victory.
Next up was the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes where Pierro held off 10-time Group 1 winner King Mufhasa. Allotted a whooping 57kg in the Doncaster Handicap, he would have broken all sorts of records for three-year-olds had he won.
The weight eventually proved too much but he still finished a gallant second. It was his first defeat in Sydney.
Across the season, Pierro had eight starts and never finished worse than third. It included two WFA Group 1s, second in another two Group 1s and third in the Cox Plate.
The Verdict
Writer Alfred Chan: All Too Hard
Roar Racing Editor Justin Cinque: Ocean Park
Roar Editor Tristan Rayner: Black Caviar
Roar Expert Andrew Hawkins: Black Caviar
Roar Expert Cameron Rose: All Too Hard
What a competitive field!
The Roar is all about your sports opinion so with no clear winner amongst the resident tipsters can our Roarers break the deadlock?
jules
Guest
Black Caviar was the best horse to race in this country this year, but that does not decide the HOTY award. She won 3 group 1 races, and that will not be enough to win the award. She missed the spring through injury which will count her out, and Ocean Park missing the autumn counts against him too. ATH will win the award, he won the CG in the spring, was 2nd in the CP, and took all before him in the autumn. If he goes to Royal Ascot and wins he makes a certainty of it.
Thomas A McHenryh
Roar Rookie
A DEAD HEAT with a short half head for third The likes of "Black Caviar" and "All Too Hard" I believe will be very very hard to repeat. As with all selections almost too hard to judge. The best result is as selected by your panel of experts. BLACK CAVIAR.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Hurrah! Agree completely. By the way, no real consideration of All Too Hard?
Alexander Grant
Roar Pro
Ocean Park and BC share a common thread in that they both hardly raced in one chunk of the Australian season. It makes you question the best criteria for selecting horse of the year, doesn't it? I'd still go with Black Caviar, but All Too Hard has to be closer if we consider race quality the biggest factor over consistency. Not an easy chocie whatsoever.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Obviously a day late in, but for what it's worth I think Andrew and Tristan have it right. It can only be Black Caviar. On pure form and races won, then no, but whenever a horse is able to drag thousands of people to a track just to see her alone, then something special is going on, and that must be taken into account against the usual analysis.
ausi
Guest
Top crop of 3 year olds - best since 1976.
ausi
Guest
Pretty emotional stuff here Sheek. Certainly its about the horses - but its much more than that - its really just as much about the people and their extraordinary behaviour compared with the public veneer they present in a normal social environment. And the true characters - I think of the ones that I have known personally, some of the great breeders - they were better horsemen than many of the trainers we see now - they knew their animals, their husbandry and know how was fascinating - I think of A.O. Ellison - leading solicitor, gentle, polite, tough and he knew his horses - learnt from Stanley Wooton - now there is a pedigree. And the role goes on, George Ryder, Lionel Israel, John Kelly, all hard men in the nicest way, and the real character trainers, the Smiths - both TJ and Ernie, the jockeys - Moore, Mulley, Jack Thompson - all these are dead, so they can be mentioned comfortably and then there is Bart - you cant tell me that these people are not more interesting than the horses. Do you get pleasure from breeding and racing a G1 winner - of course you do, but the horse lives in the public perception more as a glamour figure than a horse. The people are multidimensional and fascinating - of course there are plenty who are boring, often unintelligent or just plain devious - you dont worry about them - enjoy the colour of the people - that makes you a winner - not just the punt.
Andrew Hawkins
Expert
I went with Black Caviar because of something more than racetrack performances. She was the horse of the year for her ability, but also for the attention she brought to horse racing. Many will believe it counts for nothing. For me, it counts for something. If it were best performances this year, she wouldn't win. But for HORSE of the year, it has to be her for mine. Ocean Park's the only other one I legitimately considered.
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
For the record, I know it doesn't tell the whole story but the Timeform ratings for performances last Spring and this Autumm are as follows: - Black Caviar 134 for the TJ Smith - ATH 128+ for the Orr - Ocean park 128 for the Cox Plate - Its A Dundeel 127 for ATC Derby - Pierro, not too sure varying between 127-128
BBP
Guest
ATH did win the Guineas.
BBP
Guest
You guys are overthunking this. Must be All Too Hard. Guineas, 3xG1s at WFA, that’s more than enough. Anyway, this would be a no contest if Proisir didn’t prick early in the Cox Plate. Proisir drags ATH another 50m in the Cox Plate and he wins by a length. ATH clearly followed by Black Caviar and IAD. Next question please !
sheek
Roar Guru
Two things will haunt Black Caviar from being proclaimed the greatest race horse ever seen in Australia. Or more precisely, haunt her connections. She only once ran at a distance of 1400m (CF Orr Stks) or more & only once carried a big weight (58 kgs not much above wfa) in a handicap race (Newmarket Hcp). I have said twice or thrice that had BC run in the Newmarket this year under 61.5kgs & even had she ran a minor placing, that may well have been the race to launch her into immortality. Sometimes you don't need to win to demonstrate your greatness. Also, BC's unbeaten record is put forward by some as a measure of her greatness. Well, up to a point. I wonder if there's a provincial horse running around unbeaten in 25 starts? The point is, being unbeaten is one thing. But the calibre of the field & challenging the horse beyond its safety zone is another. I doubt BC was rarely taken out of her comfort zone. Sorry, end of another rant.....
Chris
Guest
I am more concerned the nominations appear to be more favored to horses who are just racing. I'm amazed that Ocean Park is not the stand out. Was clearly the WFA champion of the spring which is the premiership end of the season for adult horses. Autumn racing is about juveniles and while there were some amazing performances (ATH and Fiveandahalfstar for example) it seems that we are forgetting the spring carnival a touch for nominations. Ocean Park for me. Produced the goods whenever asked.
Chris
Guest
True the TJ Smith field was great but you can't award it based on that. She is the best horse but not sure she achieved the most. I would say Ocean Park winning the Underwood, Caulfield Stakes and Cox Plate far outweighs her three wins MOST of which were against also rans.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Cinque, fictional scenarios don't count. Track records, opponents crushed, complete dominance. No question. The only way she doesn't win is if she doesn't race at all.
Cameron Rose
Expert
I'm with Justin there Tristo. and was about to make a similar analogy. We know she's the best in an overall sense, her glittering record is there for all to see. But purely in this season?
Justin Cinque
Expert
So Tristo, if Moods did the right thing by the people of Rockhampton and brought her back for one race (instead of the three she won), her farewell, in a $10000 WFA race at Rocky and she won by a furlong, she'd still be deserving of the HOTY title because she's the best? Huge call!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Absolutely incorrect. She's clearly the best. Therefore, she wins.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Winning in both States is quite underrated and is one of the reasons I think More Joyous and Pierro are overrated. It's A Dundeel's Group 1's all came in Sydney... Fiveandahalfstar just overtook him in my books.
Justin Cinque
Expert
Spot on with your numbers - I was a little rushed. And well justified. The spring will be the decider.