The script for the Eclipse Awards had been written several weeks ago. In almost every category, there was one overwhelming choice. The Awards were given away in Los Angeles on Monday late in the afternoon. Every fancied prospect came through.

Curlin was the odds on pick to win Horse of the Year honours. The Smart Strike colt, winner of the Preakness and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, ran away with the award. Curlin’s award set the trend for a succession of Eclipse winners whose crowning achievements came during that dreary late October weekend on a rain-soaked Monmouth Park. Curlin had his ups and downs but his compelling victory in the BC Classic shut the door on the other aspirants.

Curlin also carried the top three year-old category award. After trading wins with Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, Curlin gave his archrival an unforgettable thrashing in the BC Classic. That Classic win silenced Curlin’s critics and emboldened his supporters.

War Pass made the BC Juvenile a ‘no contest’ and in the process, demonstrated his near invincibility and was duly voted the best freshman male.

Indian Blessing won her sophomore debut by the skin of her teeth at Santa Anita. The fractions were so fast that the fans were in disbelief when she held on in a desperate dash to the wire. It was a far cry, however, in the BC Juvenile for fillies. Indian Blessing put daylight between herself and her rivals. As widely anticipated, Indian Blessing, the pride of Bob Baffert’s stable, was voted the best freshman girl.

Rags To Riches won the 2007 Belmont Stakes and beat Curlin in a heart-pounding stretch duel.  She was voted the top sophomore girl.  She tasted defeat subsequently but had a training setback because of an injury. A hairline fracture off-fore in September put an end to the 2007 season. Rags To Riches is back in training and Todd Pletcher has confirmed that his star filly will be in action in 2008.

Lawyer Ron was a disappointment in the BC Classic. However, his other wins were so well-gained that he was voted the top older male.

Ginger Punch showed heart when eking out a win in the BC Distaff and she was given the best older female award.

BC Female sprint winner Maryfield justified expectations by landing the best female sprinter award.

Midnight Lute, winner of the BC sprint was voted the top male sprinter.

English Channel signed off with a going-away in the BC Turf and was made the best male turf horse.

Lahudood took her game to new heights when winning the BC Turf and was given the best female turf (horse) award.

The Shadwell Stable was voted the top owner. Adena Springs was the top breeder.

Garrett Gomes, winning everything under the sun at the moment, was voted the top jockey. Todd Pletcher carried the training award. Apprentice Joe Talamo of California was voted the top apprentice rider.

Eclipse is an 18th century horse. He started racing at five and was undefeated in 18 starts. Eight wins came with walkovers. Eclipse sired three Epsom Derby winners.

Last week in Santa Anita, Wait A While carried the public purse to victory in the $150,000 Grade II San Gorgonio Handicap. Five ran. Wait A While paid $2.60. It was a race over 1,800 metres on the grass and Wait A While clocked 1 46.81 seconds. It was a three-length victory. Wait A While is now 7 for 11 on the grass. Wait A While’s sire is Maria’s Mon. The dam is Flirtatious by A P Indy.

Garrett Gomez, the winning jockey said, “She (Wait A While) was looking around and broke out. I could not get her focused on the task. When the time came, she did what she was supposed to do.“

Trainer Todd Pletcher was satisfied. “We will give her another race in California. Then on to summer in New York and back for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Nownownow, winner of the BC juvenile (turf) will race this year in Ireland. Trainer David Wachman will take care of Nownownow. At 33-1 in the early betting, Nownownow is a longshot for the English 2,000 Guineas. The unbeaten New Approach heads the market at 5-2.

Champs Elysees, Garrett Gomez up, won the $150,000 Grade II (turf) San Marcos Stakes. The return was $2.80. Six ran. Trainer Bobby Frankel was pleased with the first win on US soil for Champs Elysees.

“He raced well,“ Frankel stated. The pace was slow. He had to go very wide in the turn but he finished quite well.”

Champs Elysees represents the disappearing Danehill line.

In a shocking development in France, trainer Andre Fabre and the Aga Khan have parted company.   Since 2005, Andre Fabre had been training horses bought by the Aga Khan from the Jean Luc Lagarderes family.  Andre Fabre, champion trainer in France for 21 consecutive years, put it all philosophically.  “This is because of an operational disagreement and there is nothing else to it. I believe that Sir Michael Stoute and Luca Cumani have gone through the same thing in England. These things happen to everybody from time to time.”

George Rimaud, official spokesman for the Aga Khan, confirmed the end of one of France’s most celebrated racing partnerships.

Good Ba Ba won the Citi Stewards Cup at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday. Trainer Andreas Schultz will now set up the much-awaited clash with Sacred Kingdom in March. Good Ba Ba won the Hong Kong Mile last December.

Sony will begin sponsoring the QE II Cup at Ascot. The 2008 renewal of the ‘Mile’ classic will be held on Sep 27, 2008. Sony, already, has invested heavily in the track.

The value of the race will go from $200,000 to $250,000. The 2007 race was won by Ramonti, who beat back a late bid from Excellent Art.

Sources: Racing Post, NTRA and others.

The script for the Eclipse Awards had been written several weeks ago. In almost every category, there was one overwhelming choice. The Awards were given away in Los Angeles on Monday late in the afternoon. Every fancied prospect came through.

Curlin was the odds on pick to win Horse of the Year honours. The Smart Strike colt, winner of the Preakness and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, ran away with the award. Curlin’s award set the trend for a succession of Eclipse winners whose crowning achievements came during that dreary late October weekend on a rain-soaked Monmouth Park. Curlin had his ups and downs but his compelling victory in the BC Classic shut the door on the other aspirants.

Curlin also carried the top three year-old category award. After trading wins with Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, Curlin gave his archrival an unforgettable thrashing in the BC Classic. That Classic win silenced Curlin’s critics and emboldened his supporters.

War Pass made the BC Juvenile a ‘no contest’ and in the process, demonstrated his near invincibility and was duly voted the best freshman male.

Indian Blessing won her sophomore debut by the skin of her teeth at Santa Anita. The fractions were so fast that the fans were in disbelief when she held on in a desperate dash to the wire. It was a far cry, however, in the BC Juvenile for fillies. Indian Blessing put daylight between herself and her rivals. As widely anticipated, Indian Blessing, the pride of Bob Baffert’s stable, was voted the best freshman girl.

Rags To Riches won the 2007 Belmont Stakes and beat Curlin in a heart-pounding stretch duel.  She was voted the top sophomore girl.  She tasted defeat subsequently but had a training setback because of an injury. A hairline fracture off-fore in September put an end to the 2007 season. Rags To Riches is back in training and Todd Pletcher has confirmed that his star filly will be in action in 2008.

Lawyer Ron was a disappointment in the BC Classic. However, his other wins were so well-gained that he was voted the top older male.

Ginger Punch showed heart when eking out a win in the BC Distaff and she was given the best older female award.

BC Female sprint winner Maryfield justified expectations by landing the best female sprinter award.

Midnight Lute, winner of the BC sprint was voted the top male sprinter.

English Channel signed off with a going-away in the BC Turf and was made the best male turf horse.

Lahudood took her game to new heights when winning the BC Turf and was given the best female turf (horse) award.

The Shadwell Stable was voted the top owner. Adena Springs was the top breeder.

Garrett Gomes, winning everything under the sun at the moment, was voted the top jockey. Todd Pletcher carried the training award. Apprentice Joe Talamo of California was voted the top apprentice rider.

Eclipse is an 18th century horse. He started racing at five and was undefeated in 18 starts. Eight wins came with walkovers. Eclipse sired three Epsom Derby winners.

Last week in Santa Anita, Wait A While carried the public purse to victory in the $150,000 Grade II San Gorgonio Handicap. Five ran. Wait A While paid $2.60. It was a race over 1,800 metres on the grass and Wait A While clocked 1 46.81 seconds. It was a three-length victory. Wait A While is now 7 for 11 on the grass. Wait A While’s sire is Maria’s Mon. The dam is Flirtatious by A P Indy.

Garrett Gomez, the winning jockey said, “She (Wait A While) was looking around and broke out. I could not get her focused on the task. When the time came, she did what she was supposed to do.“

Trainer Todd Pletcher was satisfied. “We will give her another race in California. Then on to summer in New York and back for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Nownownow, winner of the BC juvenile (turf) will race this year in Ireland. Trainer David Wachman will take care of Nownownow. At 33-1 in the early betting, Nownownow is a longshot for the English 2,000 Guineas. The unbeaten New Approach heads the market at 5-2.

Champs Elysees, Garrett Gomez up, won the $150,000 Grade II (turf) San Marcos Stakes. The return was $2.80. Six ran. Trainer Bobby Frankel was pleased with the first win on US soil for Champs Elysees.

“He raced well,“ Frankel stated. The pace was slow. He had to go very wide in the turn but he finished quite well.”

Champs Elysees represents the disappearing Danehill line.

In a shocking development in France, trainer Andre Fabre and the Aga Khan have parted company.   Since 2005, Andre Fabre had been training horses bought by the Aga Khan from the Jean Luc Lagarderes family.  Andre Fabre, champion trainer in France for 21 consecutive years, put it all philosophically.  “This is because of an operational disagreement and there is nothing else to it. I believe that Sir Michael Stoute and Luca Cumani have gone through the same thing in England. These things happen to everybody from time to time.”

George Rimaud, official spokesman for the Aga Khan, confirmed the end of one of France’s most celebrated racing partnerships.

Good Ba Ba won the Citi Stewards Cup at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday. Trainer Andreas Schultz will now set up the much-awaited clash with Sacred Kingdom in March. Good Ba Ba won the Hong Kong Mile last December.

Sony will begin sponsoring the QE II Cup at Ascot. The 2008 renewal of the ‘Mile’ classic will be held on Sep 27, 2008. Sony, already, has invested heavily in the track.

The value of the race will go from $200,000 to $250,000. The 2007 race was won by Ramonti, who beat back a late bid from Excellent Art.

Sources: Racing Post, NTRA and others.