THE votes have been counted and it was a resounding victory – Typewriter was unanimously voted by the panel of journalists and racing officials as the 2014 Horse of the Year.

Typewriter received nine of the 12 votes that were cast, with Potcheen filling the runner-up spot and Perfect Neighbour voted as the second runner-up.

Typewriter (Western Classic – Doc’s Paladin) raced nine times in 2014, winning on four occasions including a repeat win in the prestigious Superstakes on November 8 with his usual partner Shane Ellis in the saddle.

Owned by Robert and Valentine Chung and trained by Spencer Chung, Typewriter’s three other wins in 2014 were recorded in the Open Allowance category. The trainer was a happy man when he heard the news.

“Wow! I am very happy to know that Typewriter was voted as the Horse of the Year. His performance in the Superstakes was something to behold, and that run must surely have been the catalyst for his selection as Horse of the Year.

“After winning the Superstakes in 2013, everything had to go right in 2014. There were some setbacks, but everything clicked and fell into place on November 8. It was a one-year journey for both Typewriter and myself which culminated in winning the one that really counts,” Spencer Chung told the Complete Racing Guide.

Commenting on Typewriter’s runs following victory in the Superstakes the trainer said: “In the Gold Cup in December, the trip of seven furlongs was not to his liking hence his level of performance, while in the longer Harry Jackson on Boxing Day (2014), he had some problems and simply did not perform.”Typewriter was also voted as the overall champion stayer. This is the second year in succession that a horse from the Doc’s Paladin dam line has been voted as the Horse of the Year. Princess Popstar (Adore The Gold – Doc’s Paladin) was the Horse of the Year for 2013.

Potcheen, the first runner-up, had 11 starts in 2014, winning four times including one win at the Open Allowance level and three wins at the Stakes level. He was the winner of Caribbean Sprint (six furlongs) and the much vaunted Wassy Gold Cup (seven furlongs). Potcheen was voted as the top overall sprinter.

Perfect Neighbour, the second runner-up, had nine starts in 2014, winning five times, once in Open Allowance and four at the Stakes level including the Governor General Stakes (10 furlongs) and the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup.

As expected, Alacrann trained by Anthony Nunes, received the award for being the champion juvenile.

In the three-year-old category, Nunes came up trumps again as Relampago, winner of the Derby and St Leger, topped the votes for champion three-year-old stayer.

The much improved Boy Wonder trained by Harry Parsard was named as the champion three-year-old sprinter.