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2012 TURF AWARDS

JANUARY 4, 2013

by Kellie Reilly

It might not have the overwrought drama of the fiscal cliff, but the deadline has come for the sixth annual Reilly Turf Awards.

Rather than have the most notable events (and non-events) of 2012 suffer the tender mercies of sequestration, I must step up and make the tough decisions for my offbeat "year in review" piece.

As the Empress/Kaiserin/Tsarina of these awards, I have decreed that a horse may be honored in only one category. Nearly every category warrants honorees in three divisions, representing the International (I), domestic Turf (T) and Filly and Mare Turf (F/M T) scenes, respectively.

The page lengths keep mounting as my entitlements spiral out of control, but not to worry -- I'll just keep raising my word-count ceiling.

In an overdue reform, links to race videos have been incorporated, for your viewing pleasure.

So without further pomp and circumstance, the accolades are:

Frankel was a soul-stirring tribute to two legendary horsemen (Courtesy of Goodwood Racecourse via Facebook) World's Best Turf Performer: FRANKEL becomes the first two-time winner of my highest plaudit, and undoubtedly, everyone at Juddmonte Farms and Warren Place will be elated to learn of their unbeaten colt's latest historic achievement. On a more serious note, let's remember how fortunate we were to see him on a racecourse at all this past year. Aside from Prince Khalid Abdulla's sportsmanship in keeping him in training, Frankel dodged a potentially career-ending injury in a racecourse gallop back in April. When he struck into his own right foreleg, the extent of the damage was initially unknown, and Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe had to quash retirement rumors. Thankfully, it was just superficial, not the tendon injury that was most feared. Frankel made a swift recovery, enabling him to make his winning reappearance as scheduled in the May 19 Lockinge Stakes. Next came his 11-length rout in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, and a six-length jaunt in the Sussex. Having pummeled everyone in sight at a mile, it was high time for the Galileo colt to venture into new territory, and tackle new opposition, over longer.

The result was the same. The imperious Frankel bolted up by seven lengths in the 1 5/16-mile prize sponsored by his owner/breeder, the Juddmonte International, and in his grand finale in the 1 1/4-mile Champion Stakes, he dispatched the redoubtable Cirrus des Aigles -- on the very boggy ground that favored his rival. The miserable conditions only served to enhance Frankel's stature, and he bowed out a perfect 14-for-14. His entire racing career was a soul-stirring tribute to two legendary horsemen: the late Bobby Frankel, his namesake, and Sir Henry Cecil, whose masterful care brought the best out of this brilliant colt.

Race with the Most Mayhem that Didn't Involve a Tragedy

I -- ORFEVRE threw away his chances in the Hanshin Daishoten with an unbelievable display of impetuosity. Then for an added thrill, in part two of his circus act, the Japanese superstar nearly won despite it all.

T -- Once again the two-year-olds in the Bourbon Stakes served up an eventful stretch run, with REALLY SHARP swerving out and causing a wild chain reaction of interference. Thankfully no one's eye got put out, but Really Sharp was rightly disqualified for his waywardness. TWO MONTHS RENT had his saddle slip in the Virginia Derby, and jockey Julian Pimentel did well to defuse the situation while sitting upright, 19th-century style.

F/M T -- The Sheepshead Bay was marred by two different incidents at the start, in the wrong kind of magical mystery tour. As MYSTICAL STAR popped her gate open a nanosecond before the actual break, and reared straight up, an assistant starter restrained her neighbor MAGICAL CAT, thus preventing her from breaking with the rest of the field. Magical Cat never recovered and was declared a non-starter. Mystical Star somehow made up a ton of ground to finish third, but was disqualified and placed last for her pains. The stewards held that she technically anticipated the start and therefore had to be demoted. Never mind that she was trailing by many lengths early, hardly making her gate-crashing an "advantage."

Beat Black (who?) capitalized on an early crawl to stun the Tenno Sho Spring (©Japan Racing Association) Most Lethal Surprise I -- Even SOLEMIA's trainer, Carlos Laffon-Parias, admitted that he was "hoping for a place only" in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Yet the mudlark reveled in the heavy going, coming again in the final strides to stun Orfevre at odds of 41-1. Orfevre was also involved in the year's most mind-numbing upset, the victory of 159-1 longshot BEAT BLACK in the Tenno Sho Spring. Actually, Orfevre was no more than a distant spectator, trudging home a non-threatening 11th in a farcically-run race. T -- KING DAVID, who had never won outside of claiming company, was accordingly let go at 28-1 in his stakes debut in the Jamaica. But just like his Biblical namesake, he whipped out his slingshot and took down a field of Goliaths.

F/M T -- BETTER LUCKY, rated just below the top sophomore turf fillies, appeared ambitiously spotted when taking on her elders in the Matriarch. The Godolphin brain trust and trainer Tom Albertrani knew a lot more than we armchair observers, however, and the 35-1 chance turned in the performance of her life.

Gerald Mosse made the move that helped Red Cadeaux win the Hong Kong Vase (Hong Kong Jockey Club) Most Inspired Ride That Made a Difference I -- WAS won only one race in 2012, but it was the Epsom Oaks, thanks to the ideal trip carved out by Seamie Heffernan. Deftly getting over into a ground-saving stalking spot, the Aidan O'Brien trainee drove to the front on the rail and kept on gamely to repel the rallying Shirocco Star and the luckless The Fugue. Late in the season, Gerald Mosse engineered a brilliant tactical move aboard RED CADEAUX in the Hong Kong Vase. Angling him out from behind horses on the backstretch, and settling within close striking range early, Mosse helped the stayer earn his first Group 1 trophy in a tight finish. F/M T -- Hayley Turner launched a perfectly-timed challenge on I'M A DREAMER in the Beverly D. By putting her in a drive turning for home, Turner was in the right spot to attack in the stretch, while the belated Marketing Mix was still finding her way. That was the difference between victory and defeat, for Marketing Mix was getting to I'm a Dreamer late, and the margin was only a head. Too bad Turner didn't get to ride I'm a Dreamer in the Breeders' Cup. T -- Garrett Gomez made a split-second decision to change plans and let SLIM SHADEY set the pace in the John Henry Turf Championship, and his mount enthusiastically took it from there. With a sure instinct, Gomez felt that Slim Shadey was into the bit, while projected pacesetter Turbo Compressor for some reason failed to press ahead. Had Gomez stuck blindly to pre-race instructions, Slim Shadey might have fought restraint or become discouraged.

Most Frustrating Trip

Animal Kingdom (left, red cap) had to wait for room before flying after Wise Dan in the BC Mile (©Breeders' Cup Ltd.) T -- Although I should be overjoyed that ANIMAL KINGDOM ran a mighty second in his comeback in the Breeders' Cup Mile, the pity-party side of my nature can't get over his nightmarish stretch run. Just as Wise Dan was powering forward in the clear, Animal Kingdom was on hold, buried on the inside, desperately awaiting a seam. When the gap materialized all too late, the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner roared through with a terrific change of gear and was gaining fast. It would be going beyond the evidence to claim that Animal Kingdom would have won outright, but with a different trip, the champion would have gone close enough to give Wise Dan a real fight. His effort was especially remarkable considering that he had been sidelined by injury for almost nine months, was returning at a distance short of his best, and was closing into a course (and stakes) record time.

F/M T -- THE FUGUE, who was nearly brought down in the Oaks at Epsom, endured sit-and-suffer syndrome in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Once finally finding a glimmer of daylight on the inside, the John Gosden filly still looked a bit intimidated as she warily drew closer. This was not her typical virtuoso finish by any means, and we would probably have seen her best kick if she'd been able to get to the outside.

I -- IMPERIAL MONARCH wasn't the only hard-luck story in a rugby-type of race in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby), but the way he rallied from his poor position marks him out as perhaps the unluckiest of the lot. On the other hand, the wasted trip to Chantilly might have served Coolmore right for swerving the Epsom Derby with him. Imperial Monarch should have lined up against his vaunted stablemate Camelot there. One month later, Imperial Monarch had a more enjoyable visit to France for the Grand Prix de Paris, where he made all the running and held on in a messy finish. There it was MAIN SEQUENCE's turn to agonize in traffic before crossing the wire a maddening fourth. DUNTLE was a victim in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. First buried in traffic, she did well to muscle her way out in the stretch and outkicked Chachamaidee to prevail in a photo. But her hard-earned success was surprisingly taken away by the stewards. Duntle was disqualified for causing interference with her bold grab for running room, supposedly inconveniencing Chachamaidee, but it looked like a harsh verdict to me.

Most Mysterious Fizzle to a Promising Campaign

Sea Moon: Please recover your sparkling Hardwicke form (Hong Kong Jockey Club) I -- Andre Fabre was unstinting in his praise of GOLDEN LILAC, and observers could easily share his enthusiasm when she defeated Cirrus des Aigles in the Prix d'Ispahan. But the bloom soon came off the daughter of Galileo, and she failed to win in three subsequent starts before being retired. Similarly, BEAUTY PARLOUR looked like France's next three-year-old sensation in the Prix de la Grotte and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas). After losing her perfect status in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks), the Deep Impact filly was transferred to Cecil, only to run a shockingly ugly race in the Sun Chariot and disappear from view. SEA MOON dominated the Hardwicke in the manner of a soon-to-be Group 1 winner, but the Juddmonte colt couldn't deliver in his two remaining outings, and his hopes of a turnaround in Hong Kong were sunk by poor bloodwork. T -- When GET STORMY rolled to his third career Grade 1 title in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, the classy front runner appeared well on his way to another lucrative campaign. But the flashy bay never won again, and abruptly called it a day after a distant third in the Fourstardave at Saratoga.

F/M T -- ARUNA capped a strong 2011 with a sneakily-good fifth in the Filly & Mare Turf, so she promised much going into 2012. That impression was only confirmed by her victory in the eventful Sheepshead Bay, but it proved ephemeral. Aruna's form tailed off, and she was dispatched to the Niarchos family's broodmare band.

Most Tantalizing What-Might-Have Been

I -- Europe's three-year-old colt milers weren't much to write home about, perhaps because the best of them never made it back to the racecourse. The unbeaten HARBOUR WATCH, a smashing two-year-old of 2011, catapulted himself into early favoritism for the Two Thousand Guineas. But a series of setbacks prevented him from running at three, and he finally gave up and retired to stud. Trainer Richard Hannon had compared Harbour Watch to Canford Cliffs, and if he were anywhere close to that assessment, he could have run the table against his own age group. DANEDREAM was denied her opportunity for a title defense in the Arc in a bombshell development: she was marooned when a horse at her Cologne base came down with swamp fever, causing officials to impose a quarantine. Judging by how Danedream had previously sluiced through bad ground in Germany, she should have had no problem with the heavy going on Arc Day, and she might have been robbed of an epic performance.

T -- FAMOUS NAME was a tremendous performer at Leopardstown, where he won a boatload of stakes over his lengthy career. So I've never understood why he didn't attempt the Arlington Million, a race that appeared to suit him well, and might have been his best chance to garner an elusive Grade/Group 1 title. Given his trustworthy connections -- Juddmonte Farms and Dermot Weld -- there must have been a compelling reason why he never made the trip to Chicago. To my untrained eye from afar, though, it's difficult to shake the sense of a missed opportunity for this grand old servant. 

F/M T -- Although this division doesn't afford the same level of "what-if" pain, I have to wonder whether NAHRAIN would have fared better without adding blinkers for the Breeders' Cup. She had edged Zagora in their prior meeting in the Flower Bowl, albeit in circumstances that did Zagora no favors. Nahrain might not have repeated that performance in their rematch at Santa Anita in any event, but the headgear turned out to be a counterproductive move.

Most Crushing Piece of News

RIP, Fox Hunt (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) I -- As in the world at large, there was no shortage of tragedy in 2012. Godolphin's promising young stayer FOX HUNT, who stamped his class in the Nad al Sheba Trophy, suffered a catastrophic breakdown in a macabre running of the Dubai Gold Cup, which also witnessed the deaths of BRONZE CANNON and GRAND VENT. Coolmore's FURNER'S GREEN, a fine winner of the Leopardstown Two Thousand Guineas Trial, sustained fatal injuries while finishing a hard-charging third in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas). Princess Haya's fantastic juvenile filly NEWFANGLED, an early 2013 classic favorite after her rout in the Albany, was pulled up with a fatal pelvic injury in the Lowther. Others were lost on the gallops, including the Aga Khan's VALYRA, who flashed high potential when taking the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) in just her third start, and the up-and-coming MUTAHADEE, who had been so brilliant in his Dubai debut earlier in the year. Australia's own PINKER PINKER, star of the 2011 Cox Plate, died of anaphylactic shock after a routine injection.

T -- Champion older male ACCLAMATION overcame early-season setbacks to score a dynamic three-peat in the Charles Whittingham, and followed up with another successful title defense in the Eddie Read, only to take his seven-race win streak to the sidelines. The California-bred was missing the Breeders' Cup for the second straight year, but it was perhaps even more disappointing this time, since he would have raced on his home course at Santa Anita. Can Acclamation really return from stud duty in 2013, and stay sound enough, to try again? DESERT BLANC was on the upswing for Chad Brown, as evidenced in the Manhattan, but was subsequently diagnosed with a tendon injury and retired to stud.

Winter Memories' career was cut short just as she was beginning to peak (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) F/M T -- The pleasure of seeing WINTER MEMORIES crush them in the Diana was soon erased by the devastating news of her retirement. Degenerative bone disease was the culprit, just when the Jimmy Toner filly appeared to have the division at her feet. Winter Memories gave every indication of staying 1 1/4 miles, and she was missed most of all in the Breeders' Cup. In a similar vein, BELLE ROYALE suffered a tendon injury following her rip-roaring win in the Gamely, just when she was emerging as a potential star for Simon Callaghan. Most Heartwarming Story I -- SAONOIS was the story of a lifetime for his unlikely connections -- Pascal Treyve, a baker in a tiny French town, and off-the-radar trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin. The small, bargain-basement yearling with the unfashionable pedigree won a Deauville claimer as a juvenile, progressed over the winter at Cagnes-sur-Mer, and stunned the racing world with his swashbuckling victory in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby). Saonois was no one-hit wonder, for he came back to win the Prix Niel and lured a seven-figure offer from Qatari interests. But Treyve and Gauvin couldn't bear to part with their Cinderella, who subsequently ran below par in both the Arc and Hong Kong. TIMES UP was an apt winner for the retiring John Dunlop, handing his renowned trainer one last major victory in the Doncaster Cup.

T -- DHAAMER's romp in the Sunset Handicap was a get-well present personally delivered to trainer Mike Mitchell, who was attending the races for the first time since undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. Adding to the poignant scene, the winning jockey was Mitchell's soon-to-be son-in-law, Julien Leparoux, who was celebrating his 29th birthday. 

F/M T -- The filly IRISH MISSION defeated males in the Breeders' Stakes in a satisfying result for trainer Mark Frostad. No longer training for Sam-Son Farm, Frostad saw Irish Mission beat a Sam-Son colt in Aldous Snow. In a further twist, Irish Mission was herself bred by Sam-Son Farm, but sold for $375,000 as a yearling. She was also emulating her granddam, 1987 Breeders' winner Hangin on a Star. KISSABLE connected in the Waya for incoming Hall of Famers Roger Attfield and John Velazquez, just four days before their induction at the Saratoga shrine.

Comeback Player of the Year

I -- HAY LIST returned from death's door to give Black Caviar a tussle in the Lightning Stakes. With only a barrier trial in the way of a prep, Hay List had not raced since suffering from a serious leg infection that knocked him out for nine months. But the top-class sprinter showed that he retained all of his speed and zest, and he forced Black Caviar to pull out a little something extra to collar him. Hay List came back to capture the Newmarket Handicap under the formidable top weight of 129 pounds before sustaining further setbacks, including colic and knee surgeries. Now he is building up toward another comeback for trainer John McNair. In a superb training performance by Dermot Weld, RITE OF PASSAGE, who had raced only once since taking the 2010 Ascot Gold Cup, returned from a 17-month layoff to land the British Champions Long Distance Cup. SNOW FAIRY recovered from a severe tendon injury to win a hot renewal of the Prix Jean Romanet, only to test positive for the anti-inflammatory medication that had failed to clear her system. Yet she stayed sound for one more outstanding race, besting males in the Irish Champion Stakes, before being sidelined with a different setback.

Most Dramatic Improver

Point of Entry was an advertisement for the virtue of patience (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) T -- POINT OF ENTRY was a revelation this season, and an eloquent testimony to the patience of Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. Knowing that the well-bred son of Dynaformer would only improve with maturity, McGaughey brought him along carefully, and the wisdom of that approach resulted in a five-race winning streak. Point of Entry progressed from a course record-setting Keeneland allowance win, to a workmanlike score in the Elkhorn, to a visually impressive victory in the Man o' War, and a dazzling triumph in the Sword Dancer. The Phipps Stable homebred showed the hallmark of a true champion in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational: blithely unconcerned with being carried out wide by Treasure Beach, and ignoring the fact that he wasn't thrilled with the unsuitably soft ground, Point of Entry still drove to a daylight success. A shade unlucky when trying to rally from uncharacteristically far back in the Breeders' Cup Turf, he is poised for another big year in 2013. UNBRIDLED COMMAND is another to look forward to, for the up-and-comer brings a five-race winning spree into his four-year-old campaign. After capturing his stakes debut in the Saranac, the Tom Bush pupil annihilated older New York-breds in the Mohawk, then capped his breakout year with a brilliant circling move in the Hollywood Derby.

F/M T -- Aga Khan castoff SIYOUMA, who was purchased by Robert Jeffcock primarily for her broodmare potential, paid rapid dividends on the racecourse. For new trainer Francois Doumen, she placed in the Prix Corrida and Falmouth before striking top form in the fall with back-to-back wins in the Sun Chariot and E.P. Taylor.

I -- LORD KANALOA began the year as just a Grade 3-winning sprinter in Japan, but ended it as one of the world's absolute best speedsters. Since just being mugged on the line in the Centaur Stakes, the super-consistent son of King Kamehameha garnered the Sprinters Stakes and blew away a competitive field in the Hong Kong Sprint by 2 1/2 lengths, one of the bigger margins in recent years. Never worse than third from 12 career starts, Lord Kanaloa is eligible to make an even bigger splash in the new year. EUROPA POINT might not be a household name outside of South Africa, but the Mike de Kock filly catapulted herself into Highveld Horse of the Year honors in an 18-day timespan. As an Irish-bred, the daughter of Rock of Gibraltar was six months behind the development curve of her South African-bred rivals, so de Kock nursed her along through her conditions. Europa Point responded by going on a tear. Once ready to take on the big guns, she scored a quick Group 1 double in the Empress Club over distaffers and the President's Champions Challenge over males, her sixth consecutive victory.

Most Notable Senior Citizens

I -- The Hong Kong-based JOY AND FUN was still going strong as a nine-year-old, winning the Chairman's Sprint Prize, placing in both the Centenary Sprint Cup and the Al Quoz Sprint, and finishing a remarkable fourth in the Hong Kong Sprint in his first start off a nearly six-month layoff. Australia's ALCOPOP was arguably in the form of his life at the age of eight. After two close runner-up efforts in the Caulfield Stakes and Caulfield Cup, he got up in time in the Mackinnon, and concluded 2012 with an honorable third in the Hong Kong Cup. MUFHASA won his second New Zealand Horse of the Year title for his exploits as a seven-year-old, including a plunder of Australia's Futurity. Since turning eight on Southern Hemisphere time, Mufhasa has pocketed his 10th career Group 1 win in the Windsor Park Plate (aka the Horlicks) in September, and the venerable gelding just collected his 20th career win in the Manawatu Challenge. The Australian-bred ORTENSIA, a seven-year-old mare by Northern Hemisphere reckoning, defeated males in the Al Quoz Sprint and successfully invaded England to take Goodwood's King George and the Nunthorpe.

T -- The 10-year-old MUSKETIER outdueled his seven-year-old stablemate SIMMARD in an all-geriatric finish to the Singspiel. Simmard was no slouch himself, having previously won the Mac Diarmida and Louisville Handicap. And the eight-year-old RAHYSTRADA compiled a fine season, highlighted by his second trophy in the Arlington Handicap and a dead-heat third in the Arlington Million. 

Horses I Kept Getting Wrong

Little Mike asks, "Now can I get some respect?" (©Breeders' Cup Ltd.) T -- I created this new category as a special tribute to LITTLE MIKE, who confounded me just about every time he raced. Having typecast him as a miler, I wasn't quite sure if he'd last the nine furlongs of the Florida Sunshine Millions Turf, but the Dale Romans charge did so convincingly. Then he folded tamely when fourth in the Canadian Turf, prompting me to discount his chances in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, where he would face considerable pace pressure. Of course, the other speed horses infamously took back, leaving Little Mike to waltz home uncontested. After he could do no better than third in the Shoemaker Mile, I felt more assured of my skepticism for the Arlington Million. But all I could do was watch helplessly as my rooting interest, Afsare, left his challenge all too late, and Little Mike beat me again. As a card-carrying member of the Point of Entry fan club, I was convinced that Little Mike would get his come-uppance in the Joe Hirsch, but even I was surprised at how easily he threw in the towel. So I dismissed him in the Breeders' Cup Turf, especially as a need-the-lead type who would surely come apart in a 1 1/2-mile championship race with plenty of other speed. And Mike again leaves me shame-faced, as he proves capable of stalking, and quickening, in record time. Will I be as hard-headed in 2013?

I -- I had the opposite problem evaluating CARLTON HOUSE, whom I consistently overrated. It wasn't simply a case of an American groveling at the feet of a Royal colorbearer; rather, given the talent he displayed at three, this beautifully-bred son of Street Cry was entitled to develop into a top-class older horse for Sir Michael Stoute. Carlton House's smart reappearance in the Brigadier Gerard raised my hopes still further, but in vain. The move to Australia could work wonders for him, as for other Europeans who have been a touch below the best at home. CITYSCAPE was another I fell for too hard. I was more cautiously optimistic than convinced of him going into the Dubai Duty Free, so when he destroyed the field in course-record time, I was certain that this was just the beginning. Alas, the Juddmonte veteran didn't win again, but he did place behind the likes of Wise Dan and Excelebration.

Carlton House: Please become the next Australian star by Street Cry (Hong Kong Jockey Club) F/M T -- After DREAM PEACE disappointed me in the Singapore Airlines International Cup, I was more hopeful than confident of a decent run in the Diana, and she exceeded expectations with a bang-up second to Winter Memories. Now it would be onwards and upwards, right? I was all for her in the Flower Bowl Invitational, only to see her knocked sideways turning for home, loom boldly, and get outkicked. Surely Dream Peace would rebound in the E.P. Taylor, in which she was a near-miss third in 2011 -- but no, she would settle for a firmly-beaten third this time. Best Campaign without a Grade/Group 1 Score I -- VERXINA had the misfortune to play the role of Alydar in the 2012 Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown, finishing second to Gentildonna in all three classics. The most agonizing for her connections had to be the final jewel, the Shuka Sho, which Verxina lost on the head-bob. At last avoiding her nemesis by contesting the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, Verxina still couldn't break through, yielding to longshot Rainbow Dahlia by a neck. Godolphin's lightly-raced FARHH placed in five straight Group 1 events. A fast-finishing third after a slow start in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, he was beaten only a half-length by Nathaniel in the Eclipse and was best of the rest behind Frankel in both the Sussex and Juddmonte International. His connections found a winnable Group 1 for him in the Prix du Moulin, but he was outdueled by the filly Moonlight Cloud.

T -- The three-year-old SILVER MAX looked like a Grade 1 horse in the making during his six-race winning skein, including the Transylvania, American Turf, Arlington Classic, Oliver and Virginia Derby. But he was possibly past his peak by the time he tried the Secretariat, and was well and truly over the top when flopping in the Shadwell Turf Mile. 

F/M T -- CENTRE COURT was among the elite three-year-old turf fillies, as evidenced by her victories in the Regret and Lake George, but most emphatically of all in the Mrs. Revere. Her only Grade 1 tilt was the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, where she had no hope of catching a loose-on-the-lead Dayatthespa. But with the benefit of hindsight, Centre Court might have had a better Grade 1 shot in the Garden City. After all, Centre Court had beaten the Garden City top two, Samitar and Somali Lemonade, in their previous meetings.

Good Citizenship Award

I -- The New Zealand-based OCEAN PARK, in the frame in 11 of 12 career starts, won four straight Group 1s during the recently-concluded Southern Hemisphere Spring -- the Cox Plate, Caulfield Stakes, Underwood Stakes and Hawkes Bay (Makfi) Challenge. Ocean Park now has global ambitions, beginning with the Dubai Duty Free before venturing to Europe. South African Horse of the Year VARIETY CLUB, sporting a 16-11-3-1 mark, doesn't know how to run a bad race. His only two losses of 2012 were commendable seconds early in the year, when just robbed late in the Queen's Plate and when outstayed by the classy Jackson in the 1 1/4-mile Cape Derby. Since then, Variety Club has been unbeatable, with his highlight reel including the Gold Challenge and a smooth score in the Green Point last out.

T -- DATA LINK was compromised by poor trips a couple of times, but when the McGaughey pupil had a sensible passage, he did his best to answer the call. Along in the final strides to earn his first stakes coup in the Maker's 46 Mile, the War Front colt later ran down Get Stormy to set a course record in the Monmouth Stakes, finished a game second under top weight in the Bernard Baruch Handicap, and ended the season on a high note with a 2 1/4-length score in the Citation Handicap.

Dayatthespa went on a five-race winning spree (Keeneland/Coady Photography) F/M T -- DAYATTHESPA was perfect all year until her unfortunate mishap of bouncing into the rail in the Matriarch, and that blip should not detract from her overall record. The Chad Brown pupil was otherwise dependable as she claimed the Sweetest Chant, Herecomesthebride, Appalachian, Riskaverse and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. DAISY DEVINE won four of six starts on the year, crowned by a masterful piece of theft in the Jenny Wiley. She nearly turned the double in the Jenny Wiley's sister race during the Keeneland fall meet, the First Lady, but she came up just short off the five-month layoff. The Andrew McKeever filly also posted a stakes record-setting decision in the Cardinal Handicap as well as a pair of stakes at Fair Grounds, the Mardi Gras and Blushing K. D. Most Daring Front-Running Tour de Force

I -- Aidan O'Brien's HOMECOMING QUEEN had the profile of a mere pacemaker for her favored stablemate Maybe in the One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket, but the 25-1 shot just kept opening up on the field until she was nine lengths clear at the wire. Although the three-quarter sister to Dylan Thomas flopped in her two subsequent starts before retirement, she will go down as one of the biggest-margin winners of the fillies' classic. 

Obviously held on from Mr. Commons in a track record-breaking Del Mar Mile (Benoit Photos) T -- OBVIOUSLY set off at a torrid clip in the Del Mar Mile, built up a sizeable lead, and was desperate to hold on by a nose from Mr. Commons. His derring-do was rewarded with a new course record of 1:32.10. F/M T -- TAPITSFLY turned in a brilliant, wire-to-wire performance in the Just a Game, upsetting Winter Memories on her home turf at Belmont Park. Carving out honest fractions throughout, the Romans mare was simply too fast to be caught. She blitzed her way home to set a new stakes-record time of 1:32 1/5.  Best Escape from Traffic I -- SUPER EASY's hopes of a sweep in Singapore's Triple Crown looked dashed to pieces when he found himself well back in the Singapore Guineas, trying to thread his way through the field in the stretch. Yet somehow jockey Joao Moreira sensed where the gaps would come, and more importantly, the Darci Brahma colt had the gears to take each and every one of them. XTENSION's cause didn't look as forlorn in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin, but he was behind the leaders with no outlet. Then as if by magic, jockey James McDonald whipped him out in a flash, and Xtension did the rest.

T -- SUMMER FRONT was trapped in deep stretch in the Hill Prince, but Ramon Dominguez was able to extricate him, and the Christophe Clement sophomore flew late to win a bit cozily. Unfortunately, he was unable to do the same when again bottled up in the Jamaica. 

F/M T -- Fans of STEPHANIE'S KITTEN, a luckless fourth in the Lake George when hemmed in, experienced a sickening sense of deja vu in the Lake Placid. This time, however, Saratoga was not to be the graveyard of favorites. John Velazquez helped Stephanie to escape in time, and she finished with a flourish to score a deserved victory.

Zagora zoomed to a course record at the Spa (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos) Most Explosive Rally I -- For sheer visual impact, GREAT HEAVENS' late charge in the Irish Oaks was particularly memorable, since she initially appeared to be going nowhere on the rain-softened ground. But EXCELEBRATION's utter contempt for Cityscape in the Queen Elizabeth II was a thing of beauty, and CALIFORNIA MEMORY humbled an international field in the Hong Kong Cup with his turbo launch. T -- Although it's almost a year old already, CARACORTADO's incomprehensible rally in the Daytona remains burned in the memory. So completely out of contention as to be an afterthought, little Scarface made up 13 lengths in about 2 1/2 furlongs in the downhill turf sprint. At the opposite end of the distance spectrum at Santa Anita, marathoner BOURBON BAY closed furiously from last to get up at the wire in both the San Luis Rey and San Juan Capistrano.

F/M T -- ZAGORA's trademark has always been her strong late kick, but perhaps her most devastating performance came in the Ballston Spa, where her acceleration carried her to a new course record of 1:39 for 1 1/16 miles on Saratoga's inner turf. The Chad Brown mare also flaunted her turn of foot in the 2012 Gallorette, Endeavour, Hillsborough and, of course, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Most Riveting Stretch Duel

Gentildonna (right) got away with sideswiping Orfevre (©Japan Racing Association) I -- GENTILDONNA was not gentle at all as she literally shoved Orfevre out of her way and bulled her way through in the Japan Cup (close-ups and head-on replay), knocking the Horse of the Year off stride and onto his left lead. Orfevre eventually righted himself as they locked in their death grip to the wire, but the filly refused to let him pass. The stewards conducted an inquiry, and judging by how Buena Vista was disqualified for a barely-perceptible brush in the 2010 Japan Cup, one might have thought that Gentildonna would also be penalized. But things have apparently changed in Japan, and Gentildonna kept her prize, despite the fact that jockey Yasunari Iwata was slapped with a two-day suspension. Honorable mentions go to MANIGHAR, who denied Southern Speed in an Australian Cup thriller, and COLOUR VISION, who came again to best Opinion Poll in an all-Godolphin finish in the Ascot Gold Cup. T -- Although not terribly significant in the overall scheme of things, the virtual match race between RED SUN and Ryehill Dreamer in the Lure was a terrific spectacle. Ryehill Dreamer, returning from a 17-month layoff, had dead aim on Red Sun, but the pacesetter dug back in along the inside in a rousing battle.  F/M T -- ROMACACA showed similar tenacity in the Modesty, fighting tooth and nail to turn back Snow Top Mountain.

Most Heroic Performance in Defeat

Nathaniel (left) was just denied by Danedream (Courtesy of Ascot Racecourse via Facebook) I -- NATHANIEL came ever so close to scoring a rare repeat victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Wheeling back just two weeks after his winning reappearance in the Eclipse, the Gosden charge did his utmost to fend off Danedream down the stretch. But whenever Nathaniel tried to put his head back in front, Danedream had a reply in a nail-biting finish. ELUSIVE KATE also performed valiantly in the Sun Chariot, struggling to secure second after twisting a shoe loose in a stumbling start. T -- MR. COMMONS warrants this honor for breaking the course record in defeat in the Del Mar Mile, where he just failed to reel in Obviously by a nose.  F/M T -- QUIET OASIS did it the hard way in the Gamely, arguing the pace throughout and forging a narrow lead in the stretch, only to be swamped late by Belle Royale. That was Quiet Oasis' only loss of 2012. Her other two outings resulted in victories in the Wilshire and Royal Heroine Mile.

Bravest Performance in Victory

Black Caviar was all heart at Royal Ascot (Frank Sorge/Horsephotos.com) I -- Australia's unbeaten wondermare BLACK CAVIAR was expected to wow the Royal Ascot crowd in the Diamond Jubilee, but she uncharacteristically scraped home by a rapidly-diminishing head, while jockey Luke Nolen appeared to misjudge the line and stopped riding. The storyline at first was "jockey barely averts being the goat of all time." Shortly afterward, though, Black Caviar's gimpiness put an entirely different complexion on the hair-rising finish: as she tried to cope with the undulating course that had absorbed plenty of rain over the week, she tore muscles, and must have been in pain when she extended her perfect mark to 22-0. That was why Black Caviar wasn't coasting with her accustomed authority, and I believe that's why Nolen was too eager to wrap up on her, thinking she had it in the bag and wanting to protect her. The chivalrous Nolen took the ignominy upon himself, then the extent of her injuries was discovered. We knew that Black Caviar was a sensational champion before, but the crucible of the Diamond Jubilee showed the depth of her character.

T -- The American Derby wasn't a vintage renewal, but COZZETTI's fearless threading of an almost non-existent needle rescued it from oblivion.

F/M T -- BOBINA unleashed a powerful rally into contention in the Senorita and was dueling for the lead when she bobbled just before the wire. But Bobina stretched for the win, only to break down catastrophically passing the wire. She literally gave her life to remain unbeaten from just three starts.

Special Award for Historic Accomplishment

Camelot made the English Triple Crown seem possible again (Epsom Downs Photo via Twitter) I -- CAMELOT has been the subject of a fair amount of mythmaking, both medieval and modern, so it's fitting that the Coolmore colt of that name was also a trifle overrated during the year. The best of an indifferent bunch of European three-year-old colts, he nonetheless furnished one of the most compelling sagas of the season, as he went on a quest for the English Triple Crown. The Two Thousand Guineas offered more of a test of stamina than usual in the conditions, enabling the son of Montjeu to beat a forgettable field. Camelot was more emphatic in the Derby at Epsom, and repelled a brief scare from Born to Sea in the Irish Derby. Entering the St Leger off a nearly three-month break, the O'Brien pupil was widely expected to become the first since Nijinsky II to wear the crown. Although he didn't have the cleanest of trips, he still had every chance to beat Encke, and was simply beaten on the day. The top Australian juvenile PIERRO, on the other hand, did manage to sweep the Sydney Two-Year-Old Triple Crown. Justifying trainer Gai Waterhouse's lofty opinion of him, the Lonhro colt rolled through the Golden Slipper, Sires' Produce and Champagne. DUNADEN scored a magnificent victory under 128 pounds in the Caulfield Cup. Aside from defying the outside post 18, the French shipper became the first original top weight to win the Caulfield Cup since Australian Hall of Famer *Tobin Bronze in 1967.

Most Arrogant Dominance

T -- WISE DAN never had a challenge on the turf. Summarily disposing of his rivals in the Fourstardave, Woodbine Mile and Shadwell Turf Mile, he didn't get much more of a workout in the Breeders' Cup Mile, where he made a course-record 1:31.78 look like an afternoon stroll. In the process, he dismantled Europeans the caliber of Excelebration and Moonlight Cloud. The triple-surface threat also set a record on Keeneland's Polytrack when running away with the Ben Ali in his 2012 debut, and his only reverse was by a mere head in the Stephen Foster, after a less than great trip.

Gold Ship will steam into international waters in 2013 (©Japan Racing Association) I -- Although CIRRUS DES AIGLES is reliably top-class, the popular French gelding is an eagle indeed when he floats over bottomless ground, as exemplified by his wide-margin wins in the Prix Ganay and Prix Dollar. This was the type of soft-ground reveler that Frankel beat fair and square at Ascot. SO YOU THINK turned in his best-ever European performances in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Prince of Wales's Stakes, just before he retired to stud. AMBITIOUS DRAGON has had his ups and downs, but at his best -- as in the Stewards' Cup, Hong Kong Gold Cup, Sha Tin Trophy and Hong Kong Mile -- he is a fire-breathing marvel. And GOLD SHIP stamped himself as the next Japanese runner on the verge of world stardom. Unfortunate not to be a Japanese Triple Crown winner, he captured two-thirds in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) and Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) before trouncing older horses in the Arima Kinen.

F/M T -- LADY OF SHAMROCK was a class apart among Southern California's three-year-old turf fillies, easily accounting for the American Oaks and Del Mar Oaks as well as the Providencia and China Doll. Her fall campaign went awry because of illness, but she still ran an excellent fifth in the Filly & Mare Turf, and is one to look forward to in 2013. MARKETING MIX was professional all year, but her most scintillating success came in the Rodeo Drive, where she broke the race wide open at the top of the stretch.

Montjeu was a worthy son of Sadler's Wells both on the racecourse and at stud (Courtesy of Coolmore Stud via Facebook) Lifetime Achievement Award -- MONTJEU, who died in March of septicemia, receives the laurel. The 16-year-old son of Sadler's Wells was a rare specimen, a combination of extraordinary racehorse and exceptional stallion. At three, Montjeu won two classics, the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) and Irish Derby, and famously overhauled Japan's El Condor Pasa in the 1999 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He was sublime in his first four starts in 2000, with his most lasting victory being a cakewalk in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. At stud, Montjeu has sired an amazing four Derby winners in seven years -- Motivator, Authorized, Pour Moi and Camelot. Montjeu is also responsible for four Irish Derby winners, including Hurricane Run, who also took the Arc and later the King George; and Fame and Glory, who went on to add the Ascot Gold Cup as an older stayer.

His St Nicholas Abbey, an unbeaten champion at two, had his classic campaign derailed by injury, but has made up for lost time by becoming a highweight older horse with a 2011 Breeders' Cup Turf trophy and consecutive wins in the Coronation Cup. Montmartre, who suffered a career-ending injury after his romp in the 2008 Grand Prix de Paris, was another outstanding son that we might not have ever seen at his peak. Montjeu's influence has also penetrated Australia and New Zealand. Aside from his raft of Southern Hemisphere-bred celebrities, his Irish-bred son Green Moon landed the 2012 Melbourne Cup, and as an entire, has a stallion career in his future.

This marks the third straight year that Sadler's Wells has factored in the Lifetime Achievement Award. The 2010 honoree, Singspiel, was his paternal grandson, while Sadler's Wells himself won the posthumous award in 2011.

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