A BOND OF CHAMPIONS! Jockey Robert Halledeen celebrates with Funcaandun after their stunning victory in the US$250,000 Mouttet Mile on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Funcaandun was voted Horse of the Year 2024. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Funcaandun crowned Horse of the Year for 2024
In a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding performances, Funcaandun was officially crowned Horse of the Year for 2024. The announcement was made at a press conference held at Caymanas Park on Tuesday, February 19, 2025.
During the 2024 racing season, Funcaandun demonstrated exceptional skill and dominance, winning eight out of 11 starts earning $27,878,200 in Stakes. His impressive record and consistent performances made him the clear favourite among voters.
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A 15-person voting committee, comprising media representatives and officials from Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), the racing promoter, agreed on Funcaandun as the top choice for the prestigious award, with the talented horse receiving 14 out of 15 votes.
Funcaandun’s performance in the 2024 racing season was marked by an impressive string of victories in several prestigious stakes races.
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He won the $1.1-million Rimsky Trophy, which took place on January 20 over a distance of six furlongs or 1,200 metres. Funcaandun’s success continued on April 27, when he emerged victorious in the $1.25-million World Vet Day Trophy, run over seven furlongs or 1,400 metres. The talented horse then went on to claim the $1.75-million She’s A Maneater Trophy on July 27, covering a distance of eight furlongs or 1,600 metres. Funcaandun showed no signs of slowing down, as he secured another major victory in the $1.75 million Distinctly Irish Trophy on August 24, this time over nine furlongs and 25 yards or 1,820 metres. On October 5, Funcaandun added the $2.5-million Philip Feanny Gold Cup to his impressive list of wins, winning the seven-furlong event in style.
However, the pinnacle of Funcaandun’s success came on December 7, when he took home the coveted $38-million Mouttet Mile, run over eight furlongs. In addition to these major stakes wins, Funcaandun also demonstrated his dominance in Restricted Stakes company, scoring victories on February 25 and March 30, both over seven furlongs.
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Funcaandun’s achievement is a testament to his talent, dedication, and hard work. His Horse of the Year award is a well-deserved recognition of his remarkable performances, and he will undoubtedly continue to be a force to be reckoned with.
Owned by champion Carlton Watson and trained by champion conditioner Jason DaCosta, Funcaandun was also a Best Three-Year-Old Male Middle Distance Performer, Best Three-Year-Old Middle Distance Performer, Best Three-Year-Old Male Stayer, Best Three-Year-Old Stayer Overall, Best Three-Year-Old Male Overall Champion, Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Foreign-Bred, and Champion Middle Distance Performer Overall.
Trainer Gary Subratie’s talented duo, Atomica ( Nuclear Wayne – Honkeytonkville) and Desert of Malibu (Malibu Moon – Lady Digger), secured the first and second runner-up spots to Horse of the Year, respectively.
Atomica, who made history by winning a third-consecutive Jamaica Cup, swept several awards, including Champion Four-Year-Old and Upward Overall, Champion Stayer, and Champion Local-Bred.
Desert of Malibu, who excelled in sprint events, was voted Champion Sprint Overall, thanks to her impressive wins in the Port Royal Sprint, the None Such Sprint, and the Lady Geeta Trophy.
In the two-year-old category, American-bred Unspun (Spun to Run – U Needa Ride) stood out, winning three Stakes races – The Dye Job Sprint, The Mr Sensational, and the Hover Craft. Unspun’s trainer, Donovan Hutchinson, was also recognised, with Hutchinson being voted Most Improved Trainer.
Raddesh Roman, who dominated the jockeys’ championship with an impressive 133 wins, was voted Most Improved Rider, having shown significant improvement from his 50-win, fourth-place finish in 2023.
