Further and Beyond tops them

The outstanding native-bred four year-old colt, FURTHER AND BEYOND, has been unanimously voted the Horse of the Year for 2021 at Caymanas Park.

Conditioned by champion trainer Anthony Nunes, FURTHER AND BEYOND is a chestnut colt by Blue Pepsi Lodge - Rumble by Graeme Hall.

He was also voted the champion stayer, the champion middle-distance performer, and champion local-bred horse overall.

FURTHER AND BEYOND received all 15 votes from the 15-member committee that includes members of the media and representatives from Caymanas Park.

CALCULUS, winner of the Jamaica Derby and St Leger, was the first runner-up while KING ARTHUR was second runner-up.

Nunes, the trainer of the Horse of the Year for the first time in his career, was delighted.

“I am feeling really pleased about it,” said Nunes. “I am extremely happy for the owners and breeders, and I think it was well deserved,” he said.

“I know it was difficult for the voters because CALCULUS won the Jamaica Darby and the St Leger, which were two classic races,” Nunes said.

“I thought that FURTHER AND BEYOND proved how good he was at the back of the year in those two big races in the Jamaica Cup and Ian Levy,” he added.

The veteran trainer stated that his horse, TERREMOTO, was very unlucky not to have won the Horse of the Year award in 1998 because he was certainly one of the best horses in the country at the time.

“It is my first Horse of the Year winner, but I have had many Horse of the Year runner-ups,” Nunes said while pointing to the outstanding TERRAMOTO.

“He won the Jamaica Derby, the Trinidad and Tobago Derby, and the Superstakes, and he was the runner-up to BLUMENTHAL, who was a terrific filly, but I thought he (TERREMOTO) should have won Horse of the Year then,” he said.

Johnny Wilmot was voted the most improved trainer and Tevin Foster copped the award for most improved jockey.

Denzil Miller, racing secretary of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited, said the respective winners were very deserving of their awards.

“I am very happy because I think everyone deserves their respective awards,” said Miller. “I think that committee really did a good job in putting their votes on paper. I think FURTHER AND BEYOND was the right choice in getting all the votes, and we are looking forward to great things from him this year,” he said.