Keith Dryden has continued his dominance at Thoroughbred Park after his stable won Horse of the Year for the second-consecutive year with two fouls from the same dam.
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Prince Jacko narrowly took out the title after he ran second in the Federal benchmark handicap 70 (1280 metres) at the final meet of the Canberra racing season.
Kerri Kulic-trained Emerald Fortune narrowly beat Prince Jacko by 0.11 lengths to claim the lucrative prize, but it wasn't enough to deny him the Horse of the Year honours.
The six-year-old gelding finished his season with two wins and two seconds from his last four runs all in Federal races on the Acton Track.
His half-brother Tougher Than The Rest, who shares the same mother De Prima Ballerina, won the title last year. Dryden's stables trained both horses to the prestigious title.
"He's been consistent all the way through," Dyden said.
"We've won it two years straight with the same dam of the two horses. If you're not happy with that then you must be hard to please."
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Prince Jacko won the title on a count back from Trevor McIlrick's Farthing Wood, who ran second in benchmark 65 handicap (1080 metres) earlier on Friday.
Dryden's stable inadvertently spoiled Farthing Wood's chances of winning the title after Eves Miss narrowly beat the three-year-old filly by 0.15 lengths.
Dryden has trained eight winners since ending his three-year partnership with Scott Collings in April.
Eves Miss won Horse of the Year for us, Dryden said.
I had two runners, [Eves Miss and Suneeze] in that race and I was flat out trying to watch them, so I didnt notice she denied Farthing Wood the title.
Friday's meet was Prince Jackos 11th run with preparation and will have six to eight week spell in the paddock before heading to the Sydney races.
Meanwhile leading trainer Nick Olive claimed his eighth trainers premiership title, the second-most wins in Canberra racing history.
Olive entered the final meeting five wins clear of his nearest rival Matthew Dale, who had one horse nominated.
He extended his lead with another victory as Eokalio won the class 1 handicap (1080 metres), narrowly beating Dale-trained horse Fabulous Fran to the finish line.
His apprentice, Billy Owen, became the first jockey to win the apprentice jockey premiership and the overall premiership in the same season since Peter Wiggins in 1980.
The 27-year-old won 16 races on the Acton Track, with Kayla Nisbet coming in second with 15 firsts.
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
