2024 HTBA Awards Night

Over 340 industry leaders, clients and supporters, attended the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association 2024 Annual Awards in Scone to recognise the Hunter’s elite equine athletes.
 
“The Hunter Valley is Australia’s premier thoroughbred breeding region and Horse Capital. It is Australia’s jewel in the thoroughbred breeding crown.  The breadth and depth of talent of our people and the success of our equine athletes is world renowned.  I am very proud to recognise their achievements at tonight’s Annual Awards” Mr Barley Ward-Thomas, HTBA’s newly elected President said.
 
2024 HTBA 2-year-old racehorse award: sponsored by International Animal Health.
Winner LADY OF CAMELOT

 
This year’s 2024 HTBA Champion 2-year-old Racehorse award winner is LADY OF CAMELOT, a filly by Written Tycoon out of Miss Debutante. LADY OF CAMELOT, is a Group 1 winner of ATC Golden Slipper, 1^st in the Group 3 ATC Widden Stakes, 2^nd in the Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and 2^nd ATC Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes. MISS CAMELOT was born at Newgate and bred by Go Bloodstock.
 
2024 HTBA 3-year-old racehorse award: sponsored by Zoetis.
Winner:  RIFF ROCKET
 

The 2024 HTBA Champion 3-year-old Racehorse is awarded to RIFF ROCKET. Son of American Pharoah (USA) out of the mare Missile Coda. RIFF ROCKET is a multiple Group 1 winning gelding of the ATC Australian Derby, the Group 1 VRC Victorian Derby and the Group 1 ATC Rosehill Guineas. Winning the Group 3 VRC CS Hayes Stakes and the listed VRC Super Impose Stakes and notable 2^nd placing in Group 3 MRC Caulfield Classic and 3^rd in the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas. RIFF ROCKET was bred at Coolmore and is owned by Woppitt Bloodstock.  
 
2024 HTBA Champion Racehorse award: sponsored by Scone Race Club.
Winner: IMPERATRIZ
 

The 2024 HTBA Champion Racehorse is awarded to IMPERATRIZ. Daughter of I Am Invincible out of the mare Berimbau (Shamardal). Born at Bhima, IMPERATRIZ is a multiple Group 1 winning filly of the VRC Sprint Classic, the VRC Lightning Stakes, the MVRC Moir Stakes, the MRVC Mankato Stakes, the MVRC William Reid Stakes and Group 3 Ian McEwan Stakes and placed 2^nd in the Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap.
 
2024 Champion Broodmare award: sponsored by Scone Equine Hospital.
Winner: MISS DEBUTANTE
 
The 2024 HTBA Champion Broodmare Award is presented to MISS DEBUTANTE owned by GO Bloodstock and resident mare of Newgate. MISS DEBUTANTE’s multiple stakes winners include the 2024 Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper winner Lady of Camelot and the 2023 Group 3 VRC Furphy Sprint winner in Queen of the Ball.  
 
 
2024 HTBA Champion First Season Sire award, sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research | Barastoc Ridley Partnership.  Winner:  TOO DARN HOT
 
TOO DARN HOT (GB) is awarded 2024 HTBA Champion First Season Sire.  Standing at Darley Kelvinside, the son of Dubawi (IRE) out of the mare Do Re Mi (GB). TOO DARN HOT’S first crop of 2-year-olds include winners such as Broadsiding and Fallen Angel (GB). His first season progeny have given him a black-type premiership points rating of 43 to take home this year’s title.
 
2024 HTBA Champion Sire, proudly presented by long time HTBA Champion Sire Award Sponsors, Inglis.  Winner:  I AM INVINCIBLE

 
The 2024 HTBA Champion Sire was awarded for a third time to I AM INVINCIBLE. Winner of the  HTBA Champion Sire category in 2021 & 2023, I AM INVINCIBLE, is a brilliant sprinter and champion racehorse. His black-type progeny for this season raked up 461 points on the black-type premiership leader board including through stakes winners Imperatriz, King’s Gambit, King of Sparta, Move to Strike and many more.
 
The HTBA congratulates all 2024 award winners and extends are gratitude to all sponsors for their support of both these awards and the HTBA’s work more broadly to promote, protect and progress the Hunter’s world leading thoroughbred breeding industry and the champion athletes we produce.