THE race has been run. The results are in. There are no more ambiguities, no more doubts, and no more speculation. Saint Cecelia is the best horse in the land and maybe one of the greatest to ever set foot on the racing surface in Jamaica.

In what can only be described as a command performance of epic proportions, the six-year-old chestnut mare left all and sundry in her wake as she strode majestically to a relatively easy win in the seven-furlong CTL Gold Cup last Saturday at Caymanas Park.

The manner of her victory when allowing weight to all others including Mark My Word, Missmyrtleboyritchie, Commanding Chief and Noon It Is, was something to behold. It is not often that we see a six-year-old mare of Saint Cecelia’s quality and class still actively racing, as most with her talent would have already been placed in the breeding shed. The decision by her owners to forego the major uncertainties of breeding is paying rich dividends — six wins from six starts in 2012 and over $4m in stakes earned with lifetime overall stakes of over $17m is nothing to scoff at.

The Gold Cup win by Saint Cecelia cements her candidacy for the Horse-of-the-Year title and a place among the greats of the racetrack. Up to Saturday, she was being challenged for the prestigious title by Mark My Word, winner of the Superstakes in early November. If Mark My Word had won the Gold Cup and followed, all things being equal, with a win later this month in the Harry Jackson, then his claims for the top honour would have been bolstered significantly. Now, it is all Saint Cecelia.

No praise can be too much or too high for her trainer, the young and talented conditioner Spencer Chung. It is one thing to have a good horse, it is something else to nurture and maintain that talent — it takes patience, it takes time and it takes astuteness.

Chung, who was a longtime apprentice with former champion trainer Philip Feanny, has truly earned his spurs and is developing into a trainer of worth and one respected by his professional colleagues. He is always willing to learn, which is a good sign, as development is, therefore, not hindered by ego or any cult of the personality.

There is no obvious braggadocio and he exudes genuine care for the horses he trains. The top two horses in terms of money earned in 2012, Saint Cecelia and Typewriter, not surprisingly, are trained by Chung. His handling of Typewriter to win the Derby and the St Leger is worthy of special praise and commendation.

So what now for the reigning and soon to be Horse-of-the-Year, Saint Cecelia? Based on post Gold Cup interviews, Chung is already searching for races, even bemoaning that Saint Cecelia might have to wait until March of next year for a racing opportunity.

It would be good to see this supremely talented horse race in 2013, but this writer would not be unduly perturbed if Saint Cecelia is sent to pasture for breeding purposes.

What of the rest in the Gold Cup field? Mark My Word was literally an absentee as he failed to ignite; Noon It Is fired up the straight when it was too late; Commanding Chief was nowhere around; Missmyrtleboyritchie ran a poor race; and Traditional Prince ran out of his skin to earn a minor placing.

Truth be told, there was simply no competition, as once again Saint Cecelia demonstrated her undoubted class and pedigree. Indeed, she has become of the golden nuggets in the annals of horse racing event in Jamaica.