PRINCESS POPSTAR (Percy Williams up) - file

The brilliant filly PRINCESS POPSTAR, who was unbeaten in four races as a two-year-old last season, was yesterday named Horse of the Year, becoming the first two-year old to be so honoured since the award was first presented in 1964.

Trained by 14-time champion Philip Feanny for co-owners Paul Hoo and Herbie Chong, the bay filly by Adore The Gold out of Docs' Paladin, bred by HAM Stables Limited, beat two-time Horse of the Yea SAINT CECELIA by only two votes among the 16-member Horse the Year Committee, comprising select racing officials and representatives of the press.

four additional awards

PRINCESS POPSTAR, who won two of her four races in record times, captured four additional awards, including champion local bred horse, champion two-year-old, champion 2-y-o sprinter, and champion 2-y-o middle distance performer, despite racing for only the last four months of the season.

. Although finishing a close second for the top award, Spencer Chung's crack sprinter SAINT CECELIA, who retired last November after setting a new record of 14 consecutive wins, was named second runner-up to the Horse of the Year. She was beaten for the first runner-up slot by stable-companion TYPEWRITER, who was also named champion stayer by virtue of his November 9 Superstakes victory.

unanimously voted

However, CECELIA was voted the champion sprinter for a fourth consecutive year, as well as best 4-y-o and up middle distance performance to the overall champion in this category BLAST THEM AWAY, who was named Champion Foreign Bred Horse as well. And Derby and St Leger winner PERFECT NEIGHBOUR from the Wayne DaCosta stable was unanimously voted champion three-year-old and champion 3-y-o stayer.

SWEET TRAIL, who romped the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup on Boxing Day, won the 4-y-o and up best female stayer as a result of that performance,while the unbeaten American 2-y-o colt FORCE DE JOUR, as well as 1000 Guineas winner SELECTABOOK, 2000 Guineas winner WILLIE GOLDSMITH, Oaks heroine LADY ABHIJITA, LADY SHARVANI and PRINCESS SHANEIL all won awards in the three-year-old category.

The most improved rider award went to popular apprentice Prince 'Daggerman' Holder with 34 wins, while there was an upset for the most improved trainer award, which saw Anthony Ferguson (eight wins) upstaging hot favourite Lorne Kirlew, who saddled 22 winners last year.