Bloodstock South Africa graduate Rainbow Bridge stole the show at Tuesday night’s virtual Equus Awards ceremony.

The Eric Sands trained gelding was not only crowned South Africa’s Horse Of The Year for 2020-2021, but Rainbow Bridge also claimed the titles of Champion Older Male and Champion Middle Distance Horse at Tuesday’s ceremony.

A R300 000 buy from the 2016 National Yearling Sale, Rainbow Bridge picked up a trio of graded races last season, when victorious in all of the G1 Cape Town Met Presented By Cape Racing, the G2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes, and G1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.

Also runner up in both the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and G2 World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes last season, Rainbow Bridge took his earnings to over R8.1 million last season.

The evergreen gelding has won 11 of 24 starts, with Rainbow Bridge’s tally of wins including nine graded victories.

Now racing for Mike and Norma Rattray, Rainbow Bridge was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein.

The Ideal World gelding, whose dam Halfway To Heaven was named Broodmare Of The Year at Tuesday night’s ceremony, is a half-brother to  Wilgerbosdrift’s exciting new sire, and fellow Equus Champion, Hawwaam, and to dual G1 winner Golden Ducat -winner of the 2021 G2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy.

Other BSA graduates to claim Equus awards on Tuesday were Good Traveller (Champion Two Year Old Colt), War Of Athena (Champion Three Year Old Filly), and Jet Dark, The latter, a R200 000 buy from the 2019 National Yearling Sale, was named both Champion Three Year Old Colt and Champion Miler following a season which saw the Drakenstein Stud bred colt land both the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (beating Rainbow Bridge) and G1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup.

Bloodstock South Africa would like to congratulate all the winners at Tuesday night’s ceremony and wishes them all the best for the coming season.