People have short memories.
I remember that in decades past, when voting was left to the media alone, successes during the Natal season always counted for everything.
Journo’s simply had no time horizon. Things seem to have changed little.
How can PP not get Horse of the Year?
His achievement of completing a treble Queen’s Plate and J&B Met alone should be enough, those races run at weight-for-age (the Met almost, at least).
He carried topweight in the Vodacom July, was beaten by the pace, but still put up the best performance in terms of ratings: some five pounds better than the best of the rest. That was Big City Life, the only other contender imaginable for Horse of the Year honours. He competed outside of his 3yo age-group only twice during the season. Pocket Power beat him in the Green Point Stakes (run at weight-for-age) by two lengths, with contemptuous ease. And Pocket Power’s sorry defeat in the Vodacom July still makes him a better horse than Big City Life, by five pounds.
His last defeat counts for nothing. Horses cannot consistently compete at top level without the occasional below-par run. Even so, no other horse in the land has consistently put up the level of ratings Pocket Power produced. He was the best by far in those terms. To deny him his crown would be travesty.
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