RAcing NSW Announce Australian Horse of the Year Finalists

Media Release - Monday September 27

Racing NSW has today revealed the finalists for the seven categories in the 2020/21 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards.

With COVID restrictions remaining in place, this year’s ceremony will be broadcast live via Sky Thoroughbred Central on Monday, 11 October 2021.

The awards acknowledge performances on Australian racecourses, as well as international performances by Australian-trained horses for the period 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2021.

The finalists in each category received the most votes from more than 70 of the nation’s most respected racing media and handicappers.

Each category finalist is eligible for the Australian Racehorse of the Year title, one of two major awards on the night, the other being Racing NSW’s prestigious Bart Cummings Medal. Racing NSW’s Awards for Excellence will also be announced during the ceremony and apart from the Bart Cummings Medal, the TJ Smith award, George Moore award, Theo Green award, Sydney Strapper of the Year, BOBS Horse of the Year and the Caryl Williamson Racing Writer’s Media Personality of the Year will be announced.

In the national awards, an elite group of young gallopers are the five finalists in the Champion Two-Year-Old title: Anamoe, Artorius, Converge, Shaquero and Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside.

Advertisement

Similarly, the Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding has some exciting performers headed by triple Derby winner Explosive Jack, along with Mo’unga, Ole Kirk, Rothfire and Wild Ruler.

Queensland Oaks heroine Duais heads the list for the Champion Three-Year-Old filly, along with Australian Oaks winner Hungry Heart, Instant Celebrity, Montefilia and September Run.

Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Addeybb leads the charge in the Champion Middle Distance category (1401m-2199m), with others vying for the award being Arcadia Queen, Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet, multiple group 1-winning mare Verry Elleegant and Zaaki.

The Champion Sprinter could go to any one of the five outstanding finalists: Behemoth, Bivouac, The Everest winner Classique Legend, Eduardo or the flying Nature Strip.

The Champion Stayer category (2200m+) is headed by Explosive Jack, with other contenders, Tancred Stakes winner Sir Dragonet, Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment, classy mare Verry Elleegant winner of the Caulfield Cup, and the vastly improved Zaaki.
 
Grand National Hurdle winner Ablaze heads the list of the Champion Jumper, with others including Gold Medals, Saunter Boy, Social Element and Zed Em.
 
Chris Waller has clinched the Champion Group 1 Trainer award with James McDonald claiming the Champion Group 1 Jockey title.
 
Written Tycoon, sire of award contenders Ole Kirk and Odeum, is Australia’s Champion Stallion with many of his sons now forging their own successful careers at stud.
 
 
Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kicked out of Australia - Jan Brueghel Wins G1 Coronation
The horse kicked out of Australia last spring as not having suitable scans to race in the Melbourne Cup, Jan Brueghel showed just what we missed out on seeing when taking out the Group I Betfred Coronation Cup (1m4f) at Epsom overnight.
Successive Stakes Wins For Flying Artie’s In Flight
With all her wins being on soft and heavy rated tracks, trainer Joe Pride has chased the rain of late with 4yo Flyng Artie mare In Flight winning the Listed BRC Bright Shadow Stakes last time out at Doomben, before scoring a late dive victory at Randwick on Saturday in the Listed ATC Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m).
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
Inglis Easter Segenhoe Stakes Double
Outstanding mare Joliestar (Zoustar) secured a third career G1 win with a staggering come-from-behind victory in today’s Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.
€1.85million Sale-Topping Frankel Filly Wins Epsom Oaks for Coolmore
The Group I Epsom Oaks (1m4f) had a raging hot favourite in undefeated Godolphin entry Desert Flower, but she came up short in her first try at the classic trip going down to finish third behind the Aidan O’Brien trained duo Minnie Hauk (Frankel and Whirl (Wootton Bassett).
New Stakes-Winner for Snitzel – Stradbroke Possible
The Listed $160,000 BRC Spear Chief Quality (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday delivered a new stakes-winner for champion sire Snitzel with progressive four year-old gelding Transatlantic taking victory as a well backed favourite.
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
Bold Maison Louis Resolute In Queensland Derby
The training partnership of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton continues to flourish as evidenced by a stable quinella in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) as Maison Louis defeated King Of Thunder in a perfect result for the Sydney trainers.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 7
Here is the full list of 123 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.