Ouija Board claims top honour

Kieren Fallon rode Ouija Board to huge success in 2004

Ouija Board has been named Horse of the Year at a top awards ceremony in London.

The Ed Dunlop-trained filly was also recognised as the champion three-year-old filly at the British Horseracing Board (BHB) gathering on Tuesday.

Ouija Board claimed the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in Texas after winning the English and Irish Oaks and finishing third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

At the ceremony which was attended by Sports Minister Richard Caborn, BHB chairman Martin Broughton paid tribute to the horse.

"Ouija Board won four of her five starts - her only defeat an unlucky third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - and picked up three Group Ones in three different countries," he said.

"Her presence was one of the defining features of the 2004 Flat season and she captivated racegoers wherever she ran.

"British racing is the stronger for Ouija Board staying in training and we look forward to her exploits in 2005."

All the awards: Full list of winners

The BHB awards, which are now in their second year, reward both equine and human effort.

The equine awards were based on and coincided with the publication of the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings (formerly known as the International Classifications) and, in the case of two-year-olds, the European Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.

Breeders' Cup Classic hero Ghostzapper was named the best horse to have raced in the world during the last Flat season.

The four-year-old, trained by Bobby Frankel, was granted the accolade on the back of a superb season which culminated in his all-the-way success at Lone Star Park in October.

Godolphin's King George winner Doyen was confirmed as the top-rated European horse of 2004 and also picked up the middle distance and older male awards.

Soviet Song, the winner of the Falmouth Stakes at Goodwood who is currently recovering from a fetlock injury, was named champion older female.

The awards for champion owner, trainer, jockey and apprentice jockey were based on prize money earned in 2004.

Kieren Fallon won the jockeys' award despite being beaten by Frankie Dettori to the championship.

Tom Queally was champion apprentice and Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor took the owner and trainer honours.

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BHB Awards

Two-year-old colt: Shamardal
Two-year-old filly: Damson, Playful Act, Soar, Titian Time
Three-year-old colt: Haafhd
Three-year-old filly: Ouija Board
Older male horse: Doyen
Older female horse: Soviet Song
Sprinter: Somnus, Var
Miler: Rakti
Middle-distance horse: Doyen
Stayer: Rule of Law
Apprentice: Tom Queally
Jockey: Kieren Fallon
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Owner: Godolphin
Horse of the year: Ouija Board