breednet.com.au

Verry Elleegant Crowned Australian Horse of the Year

Media Release - Monday October 11

Champion mare Verry Elleegant was crowned on Monday night as Australian Racehorse of the Year following an outstanding season that encapsulated five Group 1 victories.

The winner of more than $9.3 million in prizemoney, Verry Elleegant’s racing season was highlighted by her wins in the Winx Stakes, the Caulfield Cup, Turnbull Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes and Ranvet Stakes.

Verry Elleegant’s connections also received awards for the Champion Middle Distance horse and the Champion Stayer of 2021.

NZ bred Verry Elleegant is the 2021 Australian Horse of the Year.

With COVID restrictions remaining in place, this year’s virtual ceremony was broadcast live via Sky Thoroughbred Central.

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.

Each category finalist was 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, won by premier trainer Chris Waller for the 11th successive year.

Advertisement

In the national awards, brilliant colt Stay Inside was crowned Champion Two-Year-Old while Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas winner, Ole Kirk was declared Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding.

Chris Waller’s Hungry Heart, winner of the Phar Lap Stakes, Vinery Stakes and Australian Oaks is Champion Three-Year-Old filly.

Speedster Nature Strip, winner of the Black Caviar Lightning then the TJ Smith Stakes during The Championships at Royal Randwick, beat a fantastic line-up for Champion Sprinter including The Everest winner Classique Legend, Bivouac and Eduardo.

The courage and stamina of tough-as-teak winner of the Grand Annual Steeplechase - Gold Medals - was acknowledged by taking out the Champion Jumper award. Chris Waller, with 341 winners last season and prizemoney topping $43.5m, clinched the Champion Group 1 Trainer award.

James McDonald took out the Champion Group 1 Jockey title after bbooting home eight Group 1 winners, while Written Tycoon is Australia’s Champion Stallion..

Racing NSW’s Awards for Excellence featured premier trainer Chris Waller’s Bart Cummings Medal and TJ Smith award wins. James McDonald, with 131 Sydney Metropolitan winners for the year, scored the George Moore award, while Tom Sherry won the Theo Green award for leading Sydney apprentice.
 
The Sydney Strapper of the Year award went to Clare Heuston, an employee of Chris Waller Racing for 12 years. As well as her hands on strapping role, Clare has the thankless job of cleaning, ironing and sorting of colours for the NSW stable’s 1000-plus runners.
 
BOBS Horse of the Year is Oscar Zulu who netted $90,000 in BOBS bonuses for his connections with three successive victories at Rosehill Gardens.
 
Finally, the Caryl Williamson Racing Writers’ Media Personality of the Year award went to top jockey Tommy Berry who enjoyed a career-best season with 111 Sydney winners. The media acknowledged Tommy as a wonderful ambassador for racing, obliging to the media and for his promotion of the sport.
 
 
Advertisment
More Reading...
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
Zousain Sunday 2YO Double
Zousain is surging to the end of the season with a double of new 2YO winners on Sunday bringing his seasonal tally of juvenile winners to 13.
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zoustar Filly Wander Dune Impresses On Debut In South Africa
Making her debut as favourite in the Race Coast Maiden Juvenile Plate (1200m) at Kenilworth, South Africa on Saturday, 2yo Australian-bred Zoustar filly Wander Dune impressed with an emphatic victory.
2026 Inglis Yearling Sale Series Entries Open
Entries for the 2026 Inglis Select Yearling Sales Series – which will be headlined by the presence of the highly anticipated Snitzel x Winx colt at the Easter Sale – are now open.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Farnan Draws Level with Ole Kirk on 13 Winners
There’s a good battle going to decide the leading first season sire by Australian winners and with just seven days of the season to run Farnan is laying down the gauntlet to the long time division leader Ole Kirk.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 24
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!