Cape Canaveral named Horse of the Year 2018

CAPE CANAVERAL was named as the Horse of the Year at the Jetsam Awards ceremony, which was staged at the Century Ballroom, Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair, on Friday night.

Cape Canaveral, owned by Merlin Samlalsingh and trained by Merlin Samlalsingh, won the Trinidad Derby and the Champion Stakes during the 2018 season.

At the Trinidad Derby, Cape Canaveral, ridden by Ricardo Jadoo, ended General JN’s quest a Triple Crown with victory on September 24. A month later, he topped the field to clinch the Champion Stakes.

General JN was a candidate for the Horse of the Year award, along with Princess Suri and Nuclear Power.

Cape Canaveral took home four awards altogether. He was adjudged as the Champion West Indies-bred three-year-old, the Champion WI-bred three-year-old colt/gelding and the Champion WI-bred stayer.

Shes So Spectacula and Streaking Far each earned two trophies at the function.

Shes So Spectacula was voted as the Champion WI-bred two-year-old and the Champion WI-bred two-year-old filly, while Streaking Far was named as the Champion WI-bred three-year-old filly and Champion native-bred three-year-old sired and foaled in TT.

Another highlight of the Jetsam Awards was the induction of three jockeys to the Horse Racing Hall of Fame – Brian Harding, Rajpaul Rajkumar and Ricardo Jadoo.

Harding and Rajkumar, both aged 56, have retired from the sport, but Jadoo is still in the thick of things, at the age of 53.

Legendary trainer Joe Hadeed hailed the roles performed by Samlalsingh and Kama Maharaj, in the formation of the Betting Levy Board.

“They created the footmarks for us to follow,” said Hadeed. “Without (the Betting Levy Board), I don’t know if we would have been able to survive.”

Hadeed mentioned, “I know that we are not in the best place but I’m quite sure that we have a future. I would like to recognise these two gentlemen for what they have done for racing.”

The TT Racing Authority vice-chairman, Farook Hosein, spoke of the challenges facing the local racing industry, and called for the united participation of all stakeholders.

“We need to find the right formula and a business model that works,” he said. “After all, racing is a business. We must have a product to market, and we must have sponsorship. Without these two components, racing would not survive.”

However, Hosein lamented the lack of interest by a number of aspiring jockeys to maintain the standards set by the greats of yesteryear.

“We really don’t have a succession for jockeys,” he said. “We advertise on a number of occasions (but) no interest. That is surprising because, years ago, we had (many people) coming into the paddock and wanting to become jockeys. Today, they’re not even applying.”

Arima Race Club (ARC) president Baskaran Bassawh and Betting Levy Board chairman Linford Carrabon also spoke at the ceremony.

Other Awards –

Champion Imported Sprinter – Whisper Light

Champion Imported Stayer – Nuclear Power

Champion Turf Performer – Commanding Fashion

Champion Breeder – Everglade Farms Limited (Jamaica)

Champion Sire – Gold Market

Champion Groom (wins) – Donie Mootoo (12)

Champion Groom (earnings) – Ridge Williams

Champion Apprentice Jockey – Rico Hernandez (24 wins)

Champion Jockey – Ricardo Jadoo (34 wins)

Champion Owner – Shivam Maharaj (34 wins)

Champion Trainer – Glenn Mendez (47 wins)