Twelve awards presented at Singapore Racing Awards 2023

3 minute read

All-rounder Lim’s Kosciuszko deservedly won the Singapore Horse of the Year title for the second time in a row at the Singapore Racing Awards 2023 prize presentation held at the Derby Room at Singapore Turf Club on 28 May 2024.

Twelve awards, including five personality awards and seven equine awards, were given out.

Besides the bragging rights to the Horse of the Year title, Lim's Kosciuszko also made a clean sweep in the distance categories as he took out the Champion Sprinter, Champion Miler and Champion Stayer awards.

Horse of the Year Award

The Daniel Meagher-trained Lim's Kosciuszko continued to impress many with his winning streak right from the start of the 2023 season, which kicked-off with his first-up win in the Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m) in February before five other Group 1 wins ranging from 1600 to 2000m, including the time-honoured Singapore Gold Cup (2000m).

Of his achievements, the Kermadec six-year-old successfully defended his title in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) and won the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) and two Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m), handing him the Champion Sprinter and Champion Miler awards respectively.

The Singapore superstar's only defeat on local soil at his seven starts last year came in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) where he lost by a neck to Hongkong Great but that had little impact on earning him the recognition of Champion Stayer.

"I'm so privileged to have him in my stable," said Meagher.

"It's not surprising he's won Horse of the Year again because he's the champion in Singapore. He ran in six Group 1 races here last year and won five, except for the QEII Cup.

"I'm just very proud of him. Thanks to owner Mr Lim (Siah Mong), (jockeys) CC (Chin Chuen) Wong and Marc (Lerner) who rode him, and the farriers and the syces at the stables who took very good care of him."

Other Equine Awards

The three remaining awards in the equine category were the Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Four-Year-Old and Champion Polytrack Horse awards.

Now racing in Sydney, former smart youngster Coin Toss was crowned the Champion Three-Year-Old for his outstanding wins in two Legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old series, the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) and the Group 2 Singapore Guineas (1600m).

The cream of the crop among the three-year-olds in 2022, Golden Monkey rose to the top again with the Champion Four-Year-Old award after he took out two Legs in the Singapore Four-Year-Old series, the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m) and the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m).

For his thrilling win in the Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m), Pacific Emperor was voted as the Champion Polytrack Horse.

All the equine winners were decided through votes from a panel of 10 external and 10 internal judges.

External judges included members of the racing media from The Straits Times, Shin Min Daily News, Punters' Way, iRace and STC's guest tipsters, while the internal panel included Racing Sub-Committee Chairman Andrew Loh, Chief Racing Officer John Davidson, Handicapping Panel, TV broadcasting teams (English and Chinese) and the racing news desk.

Nominees to the various awards were shortlisted based on their performances in Group races and Class 1 or equivalent races.

Personality Awards

Winners for the five personality awards were determined by their number of wins in the 2023 season.

Singaporean trainer Jason Ong picked up his first Singapore Champion Trainer title at his fourth full season on 66 wins, while Brazilian jockey Manoel Nunes took out his fifth Singapore Champion Jockey title with 95 wins last year.

With 44 wins under his belt, Malaysian jockey Wong Chin Chuen recorded the most number of wins among the resident jockeys last year, hence winning the Champion Resident Jockey award back to back. Singaporean apprentice jockey Jerlyn Seow became the first female apprentice jockey to claim the Singapore Champion Apprentice jockey title on 14 wins.

Local champion outfit Lim's Stable continued their success with another win as the Champion Owner this season.

The full list of winners is as follows: