Viva Pataca significantly bolstered his racing credentials on Wednesday without setting foot on the track, taking home Horse of the Year honors as well as champion honors in two other divisions at the 2008-’09 Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards presentation at Sha Tin Racecourse.

The seven-year-old Marju gelding posted four stakes wins in Hong Kong last season, including victories in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and Citi Champion & Chater Cup, both considered Group 1 races in Hong Kong.

Trained by John Moore for owner Stanley Ho Hung Sun, Viva Pataca also was named champion middle-distance horse and champion stayer.

Sacred Kingdom, the 2007-‘08 champion sprinter in Hong Kong, was selected best in the division again and also was named most popular horse.

Douglas Whyte was named champion jockey and most popular jockey.

Hong Kong champions