The last time Award Season raced, Nelson Mandela was alive, South Sydney hadn’t won a premiership in 42 years and Julia Gillard was the Australian prime minister.
In a remarkable comeback, the injury-plagued galloper will return to the races for the first time in more than 2-1/2 years at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer Kris Lees can’t recall having another horse who has had its racing career revived after so long on the sidelines.
“He’s been in and he’s nearly got there and he’s gone amiss again. It’s been very frustrating,” Lees said.
“He’s been off the scene for a long time, he’s had a few injuries, a couple of tendon issues.
“It’s probably going to take a couple of runs to switch him back on but it’s just good to get him back to the track.”
Syndicators Australian Bloodstock bought Awards Season from France and the horse showed tremendous staying potential at his first local campaign.
He won four of his eight starts for Lees culminating in a victory over subsequent dual Group Two winner Tremec at Warwick Farm in March, 2013.
Not long after that win the horse injured a tendon, requiring six months rest and a further period of rehabilitation.
He returned to the stable, only to injure the tendon in his other front leg.
And just as Lees was hoping for a case of third-time lucky, the original tendon problem flared again and Award Season was tipped back out to the paddock.
It has been two years and eight months since Award Season won that race at Warwick Farm.
Retirement was considered but his owners decided the horse was worth the long rehabilitation process.
“It was mentioned but the fact he’s a gelding and he’s shown so much, they were happy to keep persevering,” Lees said.
“Hopefully they get some reward for it.”
Award Season has been in work for several months and has undergone a long, slow build-up to his racetrack return including three barrier trials.
Lees doubts he can win the November Topaz (1900m) off such a long break, instead viewing the race as an important first step.