Attard Top Trainer, ‘Patches’ Voted HOY At Canadian Sovereign Awards

[Wandering Eyes]

On a night that saw Patches O'Houlihan (Reload) take home both Canadian Horse of the Year and Male Sprinter honors, Kevin Attard finally ended the 13-year consecutive streak of dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse when he won Outstanding Trainer by a single vote at the 50th Sovereign Awards presented by The Jockey Club of Canada which was held outside the city of Toronto, the organization said in a press release late Thursday.

Besting Casse 135 to 134 in the tally, Attard pushed the outside of the envelope in what amounted to an incredible 2024 where he headed to the winner's circle in Canada 80 times over 412 starts and amassed earnings in excess of $4.8-million with 11 stakes victories. His campaign was capped off when former Champion Moira (Ghostzapper) captured the GI Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar, which made her the seventh Canadian-bred in more than 40 years of the Breeders' Cup to win a race at the World Championships.

On Thursday evening, the conditioner also celebrated Moira being honored with a Special Sovereign Award. Other horses from his shedrow who were handed hardware included King's Plate victress Caitlinhergrtness (Omaha Beach) who earned Champion 3-Year-Old Female honors, Full Count Felicia (War Front) who took home Champion Female Turf Horse based on her signature score in the GI E.P. Taylor Stakes and MGSW Fashionably Fab (Silent Name {Jpn}) was named Champion Older Main Track Female.

Patches O'Houlihan with Sofia Vives aboard wins the Pink Lloyd | Michael Burns

The newly-crowned Horse of the Year Patches O'Houlihan was a fan favorite throughout the Woodbine season. A Frank Diulio Jr. homebred, 'Patches' exhibited early speed in bunches and notched four wins in five starts, which included the GII Nearctic Stakes, the GIII Bold Venture Stakes, the GIII Vigil Stakes and as a nod to his trainer Robert Tiller, the Pink Lloyd Stakes.

In true Casse fashion, the accomplished trainer was connected to his fair share of trophies by the end of the evening. For instance, Champion 2-Year-Old Female went to Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro). The filly ran away with the honor when she was third in both the GI Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes and the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Casse was also connected to three other winners and one of his owners, Gary Barber, took home the prize in that category.

As for the Champion 2-Year-Old Male award, the Sovereign went to Josie Carroll trainee He's Not Joking (Practical Joke), the winner of the GIII bet365 Grey Stakes.

Finally, one of the highlights of the evening was jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson being recognized with a Special Sovereign Award for her contributions both on and off the racetrack. Last year, Wilson became the leading earner among female riders when she passed Julie Krone on the all-time list.

Sovereign Award, Winners, Votes::
Horse of the Year: Patches O'Houlihan (97), Full Count Felicia (49), Filo Di Arianna (Brz) (Karakontie {Jpn}) (48)
Champion 2-Year-Old Female: Nitrogen (114), Souper Supreme (Souper Speedy) (62), Aristella (More Than Ready) (39)
Champion 2-Year-Old Male: He's Not Joking (86), Scorching (Mo Town) (77), Dream On (Not This Time) (61)
Champion 3-Year-Old Female: Caitlinhergrtness (166), Stormcast (Mitole) (76), Avana (Vino Rosso) (28), Kin's Concerto (Mendelssohn) (28)
Champion 3-Year-Old Male: Dresden Row (Lord Nelson) (151), My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince) (100), August Rain (Sungold) (39)
Champion Female Sprinter: Play the Music (Mo Town) (160), Gal in a Rush (Ghostzapper) (47), Stormcast (44)
Champion Male Sprinter: Patches O'Houlihan (166), Filo Di Arianna (Brz) (85), My Boy Prince (21)
Champion Female Turf Horse: Full Count Felicia (182), Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) (58), Stormcast (30)
Champion Male Turf Horse: Filo Di Arianna (Brz) (180), Patches O'Houlihan (65), My Boy Prince (21)
Champion Older Main Track Female: Fashionably Fab (161), Elysian Field (Hard Spun) (83), Big Hug (Mr. Big) (24)
Champion Older Main Track Male: Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman) (160), Wicked Django (Wicked Strong) (52), Apprehend (Arrogate) (35)
Outstanding Broodmare: Platinum Steel (Eddington) (109), Executive Affair (Bold Executive) (80), Dancing Allstar (Millennium Allstar) (35)
Outstanding Breeder: Adena Springs (123), Chiefswood Stables Limited (81), Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. (59)
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: Sofia Vives (167), Fraser Aebly (87), Petro Moran (68)
Outstanding Jockey: Sahin Civaci (181), Rafael Manuel Hernandez (81), Patrick Husbands (30)
Outstanding Trainer: Kevin Attard (135), Mark E. Casse (134), Josie Carroll (18)
Outstanding Owner: Gary Barber (147), Chiefswood Stables Limited (61), Bruno Schickedanz (49)
Outstanding Off-Track Worker: Ian Dick
Outstanding Groom: Victor James
E.P. Taylor Award of Merit: Roger Attfield
Special Sovereign Award: Moira
Special Sovereign Award: Emma-Jayne Wilson

Media Awards:
Outstanding Writing: Mike McIntyre
Resolve and Reinvention at a Gallop
Published: Aug.17, 2024 in the Winnipeg Free Press

Outstanding Photograph: Mary Jane Sibbitt
Right Way/Wrong Way
Published: Dec. 8, 2024 on JockeysCanada.com

Outstanding Audio Visual/Digital Broadcast: Horse Racing Alberta
The Women in Thoroughbred Racing
Released on TheHorses.com on Nov. 25, 2024

The top three finalists in each category were determined by voters via online ballots and adminstered by The Jockey Club of Canada. The media category award finalists were determined by professionals within the industry selected from across North America.

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