Eclipse awards finalists!

European Cup heroes in line for Eclipse awards


A TRIO of European-trained Breeders’ Cup winners are in the running to gain honours at the Eclipse Awards ceremony on Monday night in Florida.

Raven’s Pass, Goldikova and Conduit feature among three finalists in various divisions for the highest accolades bestowed by American racing.

In effect, the Eclipse Awards determine North American champions.

European horses always face an uphill struggle to win given that they are usually being judged on just one outing at the Breeders’ Cup.
ravens pass ascot june 08

Raven’s Pass faces strong opposition from Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown in the three-year-old male division, and while both Goldikova and Conduit boast the better form, horses like Forever Together and Einstein have longer-standing records.

The domestic focus is largely on Curlin, the biggest money-earner in US racing history, who is expected to claim the Horse of the Year title for the second year running at Monday’s gala ceremony in Miami.

The unbeaten Zenyatta, a certainty for the older-female gong, is Curlin’s only conceivable rival as he bids to become the first horse since the great Cigar (1995 & 1996) to win back-to-back Horse of the Year accolades.

Eclipse Awards are handed out in 12 equine categories and five human ones.

Winners are decided by votes from members of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the National Turf Writers’ Association and Daily Racing Form.

Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation has also made the final three in the owners’ category, while two horses now trained by the Dubai team, Midshipman and Vineyard Haven, could claim the two-year-old male division after their exploits last term for US-based trainers.

Eclipse Award finalists
2-y-o male: Midshipman, Old Fashioned, Vineyard Haven
2-y-o filly: Dream Empress, Maram, Stardom Bound
3-y-o male: Big Brown, Colonel John, Raven's Pass
3-y-o filly: Eight Belles, Music Note, Proud Spell
Older male: Commentator, Curlin, Einstein
Older female: Cocoa Beach,Ginger Punch, Zenyatta
Male sprinter: Benny the Bull, Midnight Lute, Street Boss
Female sprinter: Indian Blessing, Intangaroo, Ventura
Male turf: Conduit, Einstein, Grand Couturier
Female turf: Cocoa Beach, Forever Together, Goldikova
Steeplechaser: Be Certain, Good Night Shirt, Sovereign Duty
Owner: Godolphin Racing, IEAH Stables, Stronach Stables
Breeder: Adena Springs, Stonerside Stable, WinStar Farm
Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Rick Dutrow,Bobby Frankel
Jockey: Robby Albarado, Rafael Bejarano, Garrett Gomez
Apprentice Jockey: Inez Karlsson, Pascacio Lopez, Abel Mariano

Eclipse Award gong for Conduit in US


USA: One victory at the Breeders' Cup was all it took for Conduit to win the Eclipse Award as North America's leading turf performer for 2008 on Monday night.

The Horse of the Year title,the most prestigious accolade in North American racing, went to Curlin for the second year running.

The biggest money-earner in US racing became the first horse since the great Cigar (1995-96) to win back-to-back Horse of the Year awards.

The Eclipse Awards, which in effect determine North American champions, were revealed at a gala ceremony at the Hotel Fontainebleau in Miami.

European horses generally face an uphill struggle to win given that they are usually being judged on just one outing at the Breeders' Cup.

Although three were in the running this year, Raven's Pass was overwhelmingly beaten by Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown among three-year-olds colts, while Goldikovacame out second best in the turf females' category behind Forever Together, winner of the Filly & Mare Turf at the Breeders' Cup.

However, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained St Leger winner Conduit ran out an emphatic winner as champion turf performer after his decisive victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf, where Ryan Moore partnered him to a length-and-a-half success over Eagle Mountain.

Eclipse Awards are handed out in 12 equine categories and five human ones.

Winners are decided by votes from members of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, the National Turf Writers' Association and Daily Racing Form.

Conduit's final tally was 175 votes compared to the 31 achievedby second-placed Einstein.

Curlin wins his second Horse of the Year title after a season in which he routed the opposition in the Dubai World Cup.

Although he was beaten on turf by Red Rocks, three more Grade 1 triumphs on dirt followed after he returned to the States before he was beaten by Raven's Pass on the all-weather strip at Santa Anita.

Curlin, who also won the older male award, received 153 votes compared to 69 for the unbeaten Zenyatta, almost a unanimous choice as older female. She got 240 votes in that category, with just two going elsewhere, both to Ginger Punch, the horse she deposed at the Breeders' Cup.

Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation lost out among owners to Frank Stronach's stables, but at least the Dubai team now has a US champion in their hands in Dubai as the former Bob Baffert-trained Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Midshipman was named two-year-old champ.

>>Read DanFarley's report on the Eclipse Awards in Wednesday's edition of the Racing Post

Eclipse Award winners

Horse of the year: Curlin

2-y-o male: Midshipman

2-y-o filly: Stardom Bound

3-y-o male: Big Brown

3-y-o filly: Proud Spell

Older male: Curlin

Older female: Zenyatta

Male sprinter: Benny The Bull

Female sprinter: Indian Blessing

Male turf: Conduit

Female turf: Forever Together

Steeplechaser: Good Night Shirt

Owner: Stronach Stables

Breeder: Adena Springs

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Garrett Gomez

Apprentice jockey: Pascacio Lopez