Unparalleled
experience, unique skills and an unquestionable willingness to share them are
among the many qualities that have led to the selection of David Merrick as the
winner of the Thoroughbred Excellence category of the 2019 Godolphin Stud and
Stable Staff Awards (GSSSA).
Merrick,
the stud manager at Widden Stud, also collected the Dedication to Breeding
Award announced at the GSSSA presentations at Royal Randwick Racecourse on
Friday, 6 September attended by leading trainers Tony McEvoy and James
Cummings, MP Michael Johnsen and iconic breeders Antony Thompson and Peter
Orton.
The
naming of Merrick as the supreme award winner acknowledges a lifetime in the
thoroughbred industry, the past 26 years of which have been spent at Widden.
For
Merrick, his latest recognition follows his naming in 2018 as winner of the
Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders' coveted Murray Bain Award that honours "the
outstanding achievements of those in our industry who champion exceptional
service and hands on practice."
"I've
worked in the industry for 40 years and to achieve some recognition for the
work you have put in is a great result," said Merrick.
"I'm
in absolute shock. There are such incredible people who work in this industry
and to get recognition is a real boost."
"It
has been amazing. It's a great feeling and I encourage everyone to get behind
the Awards next year."
Merrick's
nominator, Widden manager Derek Field, praised him for his leadership,
dedication and "a total involvement in every aspect of the business at any time
of the night or day, year-after-year."
"David's
passion and time and his selfless attitude of forever giving is something he
should be proud of," Field said.
"His
one-on-one relationships with our clients are testimony to the regard in which
he is held and the utmost trust and respect of all who work with him."
"David
has devoted his life to the breeding industry."
Merrick
is one of seven award winners who were chosen from a record 150 nominations
from every Australian state and territory representing every area of the
industry.
Each
of the winners received a trophy and a cash prize of $10,000 with $3,000 to
share among fellow workers. Each runner-up each received $1,000, aside from The
Newcomer Award, who received $5,000 plus $3,000 to fellow workers, plus an
all-expenses paid trip to Dubai. The runner-up received $1,000.
The
Thoroughbred Excellence Award winner received a trophy and $5,000 in addition
to their prize for winning their category, plus an additional $2,000 to fellow
workers.
The
full list of Award winners chosen by a panel of industry leaders:
Dedication
to Breeding :
David Merrick (Widden Stud). Runner-up: Stephanie Mitchell (Mungrup Stud).
Dedication
to Racing :
Steve Adams (Anthony Freedman Racing). Runner-Up: Michael Shepherdson (McEvoy
Mitchell Racing)
Leadership : David White (Vinery
Stud). Runner-up: Simon Johnson (Godolphin)
Horsemanship : Warren Sutton
(McEvoy Mitchell Racing). Runner-up: Nigel Bentley (Arrowfield Stud)
Administration : Cecelia O'Gorman
(Thoroughbred Breeders Australia). Runner-up: Susan Willis (Yulong Investments)
Thoroughbred
Care and Welfare :
Lindy Thewlis (self-employed). Runner-up: Fiona McIntrye (self-employed)
Newcomer : Talia Cranfield (Godolphin). Runner-Up: Alyssa Pickels (Kitchwin Hills Stud).
The
GSSSA, sponsored by Godolphin and partners throughout the industry and convened
by Racing Australia and Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, aims to recognise and
reward those who work in all areas of the thoroughbred racing and breeding
industry.
The
GSSSA were devised by Godolphin's founder Sheikh Mohammed to recognise that
stud and stable staff who are the
backbone of the horseracing industry.
Godolphin sponsors the GSSSA in five countries in the belief that hard work and dedication of grooms, exercise riders, office workers and foaling crews - the list of unsung heroes within the industry goes on and on – should be celebrated.
