The voting for the MHS Awards 2011 closed Sunday 27 November. A bumper 985 votes were cast in total and the results are as follows;
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The MHS two year old colt category was always likely to be won by BEAR BEHIND, given he was the only colt in the category to achieve black type. He also finished the season our highest rated 2yo.
Kenny Powers finished the season our second highest rated but probably the fact he remains a maiden meant that Marford Missile was able to pip him to the runner up spot, courtesy of his fantastic 2nd place in the MHS Lily Agnes Stakes at Chester.
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A very competitive category, with three of the fillies attaining black type during the season, highlighted by the fact that Switcher, who probably achieved the most in terms of bare form, could only manage 3rd place.
Pyman's Theory, a listed winner of the National Stakes came second, but the hugely popular, game and honest filly MISTY CONQUEST, who was twice Listed placed, ended up the runaway winner.
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This category was won last year by Raktiman, but we now have a much stronger team of 3yos across the board at Manor House, the obvious standout performer in this age group being BROWN PANTHER who polled 90% of the vote.
His roll of honour included three handicap wins at Chester, Haydock and Royal Ascot, followed by a fantastic 2nd place in the St Leger. Gentle Lord came a clear 2nd on the back of his Goodwood win.
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As with the 3yo colt category, the fact that this category was won by Mrs Mogg last year but this year won by a Royal Ascot winning filly in RHYTHM OF LIGHT, just goes to show the improvement that we have made in the 3yo age group.
This filly became Tom's first ever Royal Ascot winner and further enhanced her reputation by finishing 3rd in a Group 3 in France and 2nd in a Group 2 in Turkey. She is Dubai bound next spring.
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This was a very competitive division last year, with Blue Jack and Jonny Mudball going head to head. Unfortunately, both had setbacks which kept them out for most of the year, which paved the way for yard favourite BROUHAHA to pick up the prize.
Running for the Grant Thornton Racing Club (now Manor House Racing Club), the 7-time winner added to his tally at Haydock this year under Harry Bentley with an impressive 4 length victory.
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It was assumed that this category would be a straight battle between the two Royal Ascot winners, but as it transpired, Misty Conquest's band of owners and fans came out in force to secure the second spot ahead of Rhythm Of Light.
The winner, unsurprisingly, was BROWN PANTHER, getting 70% of the vote. He's had a superb year but we hope for even better next term where he will start his campaign in the Ormonde Stakes.
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Last season's ride of the year went to Sonia Eaton for her ride on Raktiman at Bath for which she polled a massive 170 votes!
This year's competition was a more even contest but in the end it was a clean sweep for RICHARD KINGSCOTE whose rides landed all three podium places.
Both of his Royal Ascot winning rides were brilliant and hugely memorable for all concerned. The first of these was the ride on Rhythm Of Light for which 24 people voted. She did not have an ideal draw and ended up winning down the far side of the track. She travelled beautifully through the race and was produced at just the right time to enable her to pull clear of Dubai Queen.
In second place was Richard's ride on Misty Conquest at Pontefract, where she beat subsequent Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes and Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes winner Caspar Netscher. That colt was hugely fancied on the day and went off the 11/10 favourite but Richard executed a fantastically well judged front running ride on Misty Conquest, quickening off the bend and never looking in danger of being caught.
The winning ride however, was his effort on Brown Panther at Royal Ascot. Many of us watching were screaming 'don't go too soon Richard!' but he knew exactly how much horse he had under him and his early move was proved completely correct as the big colt moved effortlessly clear to eventually win by a massive six lengths.
Other notably popular rides were that of Harry Bentley at Haydock on Brouhaha and Hayley Turner's excellent front running ride on Adorable Choice at Nottingham.
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Goldikova picked up this award last year, but having had her colours lowered in the Foret and only managing 3rd in her bid for a 4th Breeders' Cup Mile, she was not even nominated this year. Her conqueror in the Foret, Dream Ahead, despite winning that and the July Cup, only polled 1 vote.
Of course, the runaway winner was also going to be the unbeaten FRANKEL, perhaps the greatest miler we have ever seen, who won the Greenham, Guineas, St James's Palace, Sussex Stakes and QEII by an aggregate of 20 lengths.
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