This could have been the best season yet

Dubai: This column aims to salute some of the extraordinary efforts — successful or not — that best embodied the spirit of the 2012-2013 UAE racing season.

It was a season that will be remembered for the tenacity, perseverance and sense of bonhomie that prevailed and had a positive influence on not just owners, trainers and jockeys, but also on all those involved in the sport in some way or the other.

Here are some of my personal highlights (in no special order of preference):

Training performance of the season: Satish Seemar

Seemar indisputably deserves this accolade in view of what he achieved with Reynaldothewizard, whose three Carnival wins culminated in a sensational victory in the $2 million (Dh7.4 million) Dubai Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night. Seemar confidently trained the son of millionaire Eclipse Champion Speightstown, who began his UAE career in 2010 rated a modest 90lb, to rise up the handicap ranks to Group level. The Zabeel Stables boss has always maintained that sprinters get better with age and there can be no doubting his wisdom, given what he has accomplished with Reynaldothewizard. Few trainers can match that feat.

Riding performance of the season: Paul Hanagan

The dual British championship winning rider showed just why he is regarded as one of the hottest properties in the sport, with a string of accomplished efforts in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance. Despite having missed 13 meetings, he prised out 23 winners, to finish third in the championship behind Tadhg O’Shea. But more than the numbers, Hanagan enthralled with every performance, with his cool head and safe pair of hands. His hat-trick of wins aboard Soft Falling Rain, which culminated in the $1 million Godolphin Mile, are the stuff of champions. Hanagan’s work ethics are reportedly flawless and he relentlessly pursues his goals.

Horse of the season: A tie

There were so many outstanding performances from the equine stars themselves that I find it hard to single out one horse who deserves the accolade. But I am prepared to stick my head out and say Treble Jig and Sajjhaa have been declared joint winners. Treble Jig is a phenomenal horse and sentimental winner of the award. How many horses could have accomplished what he did by replicating his performances of last season to win the Jebel Ali Mile and Stakes while stringing together four wins? Godolphin’s Sajjhaa, on the other hand, performed at the highest possible level, winning two Group 1s and as many Group 2 races during a remarkable season that culminated with a victory in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free.

Disappointment of the season: In The Spotlight

India’s champion filly came here proudly, boasting to be one of the best-ever horses to have raced in the racing-mad country. She might not have won in three starts, but she was far from disgraced. You could say she was incredibly unlucky having only just fallen short in each of those races. In addition, In The Spotlight faced the toughest challenge of having to race for the first time under lights, left handed and after spending her time in isolation.

So, in short, the 2012-2013 UAE racing season had plenty of hits and the odd misses. But, it could just have been the best ever, until the next one.