Mark My Word sweeps major awards

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The 2010 Triple Crown and Superstakes winner, MARK MY WORD, was predictably named Horse of the Year on Tuesday night at the new-look None Such/Horse of the Year Awards function, at the Courtleigh Auditorium (formerly Island Life cinema) in New Kingston.

The large crowd, which included Senator Warren Newby, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture; British High Commissioner Howard Drake; Spanish Ambassador Celsa Nuño and Portmore Mayor Keith Hinds, were treated to the premiere showing of the highly acclaimed motion picture, Secretariat, that depicts the life and times of the 1973 American Triple Crown winner.

Having won the six races as a three-year-old last season, including the Triple Crown series, the Richard Azan-trained colt MARK MY WORD won the top award by unanimous acclaim.

The son of Market Rally-Miss Chestnut also won awards as champion three-year-old, champion middle-distance performer, champion stayer and champion native-bred horse. To cap it all, his owners - Elite Bloodstock Limited - walked away with the champion owners' award.

Unbeaten

Interestingly, the nine-member Elite Bloodstock group comprises a number of very prominent owners, including Richard Azan, Milade Azan, Dr Graham Brown, Randy McLean, Edison Chai along with former champion owners Laurence Heffes and Alexander Haber.

The seven are joint owners of MARK MY WORD, but Elite Bloodstock, which owns a number of other horses, including PRINCE OF PEACE, ROLEX, ERASMO and KRYPTROGRAM, is completed by Von White and Rohan Crichton.

The American-bred colt CASSANOVA BOY, who was unbeaten in six starts last season, was named first runner-up to the Horse of the Year, while the classy filly SAINT CECELIA, from the stables of Spencer Chung, won the second runner-up award. She was also named champion sprinter and champion four-year-old and up filly and mare.

The Wayne DaCosta-trained CASSANOVA BOY also won additional awards for owners Elizabeth DaCosta (the trainer's wife) and Mitta Rousseau, including champion four-year-old and up.

The Tony Kirlew-trained American colt MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE, who won a string of races in fast times in the second half of 2010, was predictably named champion two-year-old, while the DaCosta-trained filly, FATTY BUM BUM, picked up an award as top two-year-old of the opposite sex and Kenval Wallace's RONRON, top three-year-old filly.

DaCosta was on hand to accept the champion trainer award for the sixth consecutive year, having won 10 titles overall to date, while Omar Walker was present to collect the champion jockey award for the fourth straight year. Doushane Gordon capped the champion apprentice award for the second consecutive year, as did HAM Stables Limited as champion breeders.

The dreadlocked Pascal Pennant, who is attached to the stables of Welsh Soutar, received the champion groom award, Soutar himself beating out Morris Powell and Harry Parsard for the most-improved trainer award, while Aaron Chatrie was named most-improved rider.

The late Royal Minister was named champion sire for the eighth consecutive year (Matchem Award), while Miss Chestnut, the dam of MARY MY WORD, won the award for champion brood mare.

A special award, a framed painting of MARK MY WORD, was presented to Chris Armond, outgoing marketing director and acting CEO of Caymanas Track Limited, who will be leaving the company tomorrow to take up a major appointment in the Trinidad and Tobago racing industry.

The night's loudest cheers were reserved for popular female jockey Georgina Sergeon, who, dressed to kill, was invited onstage to draw the winning raffle ticket.