Over 300 industry leaders, clients, and supporters attended the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association 2023 Annual Awards in Scone to recognise the Hunter’s elite equine athletes and celebrate the achievements of remarkable people in our industry.
“The HTBA Annual Awards Dinner celebrates the Hunter’s champion equine athletes and the resilient people in our industry who inspire us. They make us proud that we know them, work with them and witness their achievements on the track and in life.
These Awards are about our champions of the field. Whether you are the winner of an award tonight or part of our vast, talented and successful industry, we appreciate you one and all and thank you for your support.
This year’s equine athlete categories, as always, are strongly contested.
The 2023 HTBA Champion 2-year-old Racehorse award winner is SHINZO, son of Snitzel out of the mare Samaready. SHINZO, was a brilliant winner of the Group 1 winner of ATC Golden Slipper as well as the Group 3 ATC Pago Pago Stakes and was bred at Coolmore Australia by Katom. The 2023 HTBA 2-year-old racehorse award is sponsored by International Animal Health.
The 2023 HTBA Champion 3-year-old Racehorse winner is awarded to GIGA KICK. Son of Scissor Kick out of the mare Rekindled Applause. Winner of the Group 1 ATC All Aged Stakes, the Group2 VRC Danehill Stakes, the Group 3 MRC Vain Stakes and notably the ATC $15 million dollar The Everest. GIGA KICK was bred at Arrowfield by GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd. The 2023 HTBA 3-year-old racehorse award is sponsored by Zoetis.
The 2023 HTBA Champion Racehorse is awarded to ANAMOE bred and owned by Godolphin Australia. Son of Street Boss (USA) out of the mare Anamato (Redoute’s Choice). Winner of the HTBA Champion 2-year-old in 2021, ANAMOE won an incredible six Group 1 races during the current racing season featuring the MVRC Cox Plate, ATC Winx Stake, ATC George Main Stakes, MRC Might and Power Stakes, ATC Chipping Norton Stakes, ATC George Ryder Stakes and ATC Apollo Stakes. The 2023 Champion Racehorse award is sponsored by Scone Race Club.
The 2023 HTBA Champion Broodmare Award is presented to multiple stakes winning producer CIRCULAR (Street Cry) bred and owned by Godolphin Australia. CIRCULAR is the Dam of multiple stakes winning colt Cylinder having two Group 2 wins as a 2-year-old as well as running second to Shinzo in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes. She is also, the Dam of MVRC Group 3 Typhoon Tracey Stakes winning filly Parsail. The 2023 Champion Broodmare award is sponsored by Scone Equine Hospital.
HARRY ANGEL was awarded 2023 HTBA Champion First Season Sire. Standing at Darley Kelvinside, the son of Dark Angel (IRE) out of the mare Beatrix Potter (IRE). HARRY ANGEL’s first crop of 2-year-olds feature three individual stakes winners including Arkansaw Kid, Tom Kitten and Stretan Angel. His first season progeny have given him a black type premiership points rating of 22 to take home this year’s title. The 2023 HTBA Champion First Season Sire award is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research | Barastoc Ridley Partnership.
The 2023 HTBA Champion Sire is awarded to I AM INVINCIBLE standing at Yarraman Park. HTBA Champion First Season Sire in 2014 and Champion Sire in 2021, I AM INVINCIBLE was a brilliant sprinter and champion racehorse. His blacktype progeny for the season include Group 1 winners In Secret and Imperatriz, as well as 22 other individual stakes winners helping the stallion to rake up 386 points on the black type premiership leader board. The 2023 HTBA Champion Sire is proudly sponsored by long time HTBA Champion Sire Award Sponsors, Inglis.
The HTBA congratulates all 2023 award winners and extends our gratitude to all sponsors for their support of these awards and the HTBA’s activities to promote, protect and preserve the Hunter’s world leading thoroughbred breeding industry and the champion athletes we produce.
The HTBA thanks our awards media partner Sky Racing and Bred To Win who will be telecasting highlights of the Awards night on their program.
