Decades of devotion and an unwavering love of her job have won Tasmanian horsewoman Jenny Watson the Thoroughbred Excellence Award at the 2016 Australian Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards ceremony at Moonee Valley on Friday.
A Group I breeder in her own right, Watson was nominated for her 40 years of commitment to the breeding industry around Australia, and particularly for her work as foaling supervisor at Armidale Stud in northern Tasmania.
Watson's reaction to receiving both the Thoroughbred Excellence Award and the Dedication to Breeding Award typified her approach to her work.
"I find it absolutely amazing that I could receive this just for doing something I love and that I'm passionate about," Watson said.
"There are so many good people out there who should be recognised, I'm just thrilled to be one of them and to be acknowledged by an organisation such as Godolphin.
"I can't thank them enough."
Her nominators, Armidale Stud proprietors David and Robyn Whishaw, describe Watson as essential to their business and an asset to the entire breeding industry.
"Jenny has delivered countless foals at our farm and has had a huge impact on our business," Robyn Whishaw said.
"Our clients value Jenny just as much as we do, and realise that her dedication and attention to detail can make the difference between life and death for mares and their foals."
Chairman of the Awards judging panel, Johan Petzer praised Watson and all nominees.
"Jenny's long standing dedication and unwavering commitment to, and knowledge of the breeding industry, complimented by a diverse and excellent skill set, with an excellent and professional work ethic, including breeder stakeholder representation, made her a very worthy and deserving winner of the overall excellence award," Petzer said.
"The judging panel is very pleased with the outstanding quality of the nominations received for the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards for 2016. The overall quality of the nominees is of a high standard, and consequently provided a real challenge for the judging panel in determining the ultimate winners in the various categories"
Watson first worked at Armidale in the early 1980s, returning in 1987 and remaining until today on the night watch while at the same time running her own farm McLeay Thoroughbred Stud where she bred the dual Group I winner and 2014 Tasmanian yearling sale-topper Palentino.
"Every year Armidale take in a number of work experience and trainee veterinary students and without fail the students say the highlight of their stay with us is the time they spent on night watch with Jenny," Wishaw said.
"She is brilliant at engaging young people and her passion and drive obviously rubs off on the students."
Watson has also served for 15 years on the Tasmanian Bloodhorse Breeders board.
The Thoroughbred Excellence Award carried a prize of $5000 with a further $2000 to be distributed among her workplace colleagues.
Watson, was also the winner of the Dedication to Breeding Award and along with each of the other five category winners receives a prize of $10,000 with a further $3000 to be shared among fellow staff at their employers' workplace. Each runner-up received $1000.
The full list of winners and runners up are as follows:
Leadership Award
Winner: Ian Brady, Stud Manager, Wattle Brae Stud (Qld)
Runner-up: Analese Trollope, Senior Foreman, Chris Waller Racing (NSW)
Horsemanship Award
Winner: Gerry Ryan, Stallion Manager, Coolmore Stud (NSW)
Runner-up: Scott Eeles, Breaking Foreman, Kelvinside Stud (NSW)
Dedication to Breeding Award
Winner: Jenny Watson, Foaling Supervisor, Armidale Stud (Tas)
Runner-up: Vikki Cannon, Senior Horseperson, Gooree Park Stud (NSW)
