Who deserves the 2024 Horse of the Year Crown

There can only be one winner.

But in a “normal” season, any of Just Believe, Keayang Zahara or Leap To Fame would be absolute locks for Australian Horse of the Year honours.

Never has there been three such stunningly credentialled contenders fighting it out.

Think about this. Between them, the trio raced 48 times in 2024 for 44 wins and three seconds.

It’s almost perfection and in the case of Keayang Zahara with her unbeaten 14 starts, it was.

Leap To Fame raced at the very top level of pacing and tasted defeat just once in his 16 starts.

While Just Believe did the same in open class trotting, including six runs in NZ, for just three defeats (all fantastic seconds) in 18 starts.

Opinions will vary, but there are so many considerations – which vary according to the individual judge - when it comes to who should get the crown.