DERBY and Gold Cup hero Makarpura Star yesterday ran out an emphatic winner of the Horse Of The Year title.
The John Moore-trained four-year-old held off the unbeaten Chairman's Prize winner, Mr Vitality, a shade more comfortably than had been expected with the prolific Bumper Star a creditable third.
The final score, decided on an accumulated points basis for first, second and third choices from a combination of the public and the members of the Association of Hong Kong Racing Journalists, saw Makarpura Star on 561, Mr Vitality on 339 and Bumper Star on 165.
But Moore was not there to pick up the award leaving it to champion jockey Tony Cruz to do the honours.
'I think John didn't want to come as he knew he'd be disappointed if Mr Vitality got the nod,' explained Cruz.
'But I was always confident Makarpura Star would be Horse Of The Year and in my book he thoroughly deserves to be because he won the races that really count.