Harking back prior to Covid restrictions, the Royal Randwick Ballroom was brimming with racing enthusiasts and industry participants last evening for the New South Wales Racehorse Owners Association’s Racing’s Night of Champions.
Guests arrived on the red carpet and were entertained during pre-dinner drinks with the Stringspace quartet. Interviews with key players were conducted by Chantelle Buckley and Ally Mosley for SKY Thoroughbred Central, who recorded the evening’s proceedings to be shown on their network.
While international performances were not taken into consideration for the points tallying, the list of finalists included recent Royal Ascot performers Home Affairs and Nature Strip, the latter taking out Champion Sprinter and Horse of the Year. In addition, Champion Middle Distance Horse and Champion Provincial Horse winner Think It Over is a son of Royal Ascot victor, So You Think while Champion Miler and Champion Stayer winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) is currently being trained in France. It is strong proof that Australia and particularly New South Wales, is a source of world class racehorses.
The Champion Two Year Old win of Laurel Oak’s Fireburn was a popular announcement, with exciting colt Anamoe being crowned Champion Three Year Old for Godolphin.
Hinged took out Queen of the Autumn for her win in the Surround Stakes and her placings in the Coolmore Classic and Vinery Stud Stakes – all races restricted to the fairer sex.
Tough campaigner Shelby Sixtysix took out Champion Country Horse, while his trainer, Danny Williams, was presented with the Caryl Williamson NSW Racing Writers’ Personality of the Year Award.
The NSWROA Award Winners for the 2021/22 season were:
CHAMPION 2YO FIREBURN
(Sponsored by Arrowfield)
CHAMPION 3YO ANAMOE
(Sponsored by Inglis)
CHAMPION SPRINTER NATURE STRIP
(Sponsored by ATC)
CHAMPION MILER VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ)
(Sponsored by Wild Oaks)
CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE HORSE THINK IT OVER
(Sponsored by Woppitt Bloodstock)
CHAMPION STAYER VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ)
(Sponsored by Highclere & Sire Custodians)
QUEEN OF THE AUTUMN HINGED
(Sponsored by Carrazzo Consulting)
CHAMPION COUNTRY HORSE SHELBY SIXTYSIX
(Sponsored by SKY Thoroughbred Central)
CHAMPION PROVINCIAL HORSE THINK IT OVER
(Sponsored by TAB)
CHAMPION HORSE OF THE YEAR NATURE STRIP
(Sponsored by Gow-Gates Insurance)
Chris Waller also picked up his twelfth successive T J Smith Award for Sydney’s Premiership Trainer.
Other awards presented included the George Moore Award, taken out James McDonald. It was the sixth time ‘J-Mac’ has been honoured with the Champion Jockey award. The Theo Green Award for Champion Apprentice was won by Tyler Schiller, who is apprenticed to Mark Newnham.
The BOBS Horse of the Year Award went to Mazu and the Sydney Strapper of the Year was Ian (Ginger) Smith from the Annabel Neasham stable.
Racing NSW introduced a new award, Behind the Scenes Hero, which was presented to Michael Callanan, Chairman of the Racing Industry Consultation Group and Vice-Chair of the NSW Trainers’ Association.
The event supported the ATC Foundation charity, with funds raised going to Equine Pathways Australia which supports athletes getting back into equestrian sports after illness or injury. A highly successful auction was conducted by Chris Russell from Inglis with sidekick Luke Marlow, which was supported by a popular raffle.
NSWROA President, Mr Tony Mitevski, who was unable to attend on the night, said beforehand, “On behalf of the NSW Racehorse Owners Association and the ATC Foundation, I would like to thank everyone for helping us celebrate the best of the NSW Thoroughbred industry. Appreciation goes to our fantastic sponsors, congratulations to all winners and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.”
The first replay of the event will be shown on SKY Thoroughbred Central at 7.30pm Friday 26 August.
For more information, please visit the NSWROA website at www.nswroa.com.au.
