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Johannesburg wins Eclipse award

European Breeders` Cup winners Johannesburg, Fantastic Light and Banks Hill were each handed US racing`s top honour last night when they received coveted Eclipse awards.

But America`s top three-year-old Point Given, who was retired through injury before the Breeders` Cup, was hailed as `horse of the year` for 2001 at the ceremony in Miami, Florida.

The Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner, who suffered his only defeat in the Kentucky Derby, got the better of a battle with dual Breeders` Cup Classic champion Tiznow - the 2000 winner - for the prestigious accolade.

Unbeaten Irish star Johannesburg was voted top two-year-old colt in a poll of the Daily Racing Form, the National Turf Writers Association and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

He won Group One races in Ireland, France and Britain before landing the Breeders` Cup Juvenile at Belmont Park.

French filly Banks Hill was top turf female after winning the Breeders` Cup Filly & Mares Turf, while her owner Khaled Abdulla`s Juddmonte Farms was recognised as best breeder.

And Godolphin`s Breeders` Cup Turf winner Fantastic Light won the Eclipse Award for best turf male.

The Dubai operation`s US-based Tempera was also best two-year-old filly after winning the Breeders` Cup Juvenile Fillies.