Hong Kong's iron horse, Privilege, won the coveted Horse of the Year title yesterday and champion jockey Basil Marcus declared the decision a 'vote for courage'.
'He deserves it,' Marcus said.
'Privilege is a very worthy winner because he has been doing it for three years.
'He battles in every race he is in, he has won some great races and he has performed brilliantly for Hong Kong in the International Races,' said Marcus, who joined Privilege's delighted owner Peggy Kwok on the rostrum for the presentation of the trophy.
Kwok, an enthusiastic owner and Jockey Club race meeting steward, was surrounded by well-wishers and cameramen as she stepped from the presentation podium.
'This is every owner's dream.
'I am very lucky and I thought it would be difficult to win because it was very open this year and there were other good horses involved.
