Newcastle horseman Kris Lees is set to claim his third consecutive NSW Provincial Trainer Of The Year Award.
The 2017 Country and Provincial Racing Awards function will be held on Friday September 29 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney where Lees is the sole nominee for the Provincial Trainer Of The Year category.
Two of Lees' Group I winners from last season, Le Romain and Sense Of Occasion, are finalists for the Provincial Horse Of The Year Award.
Jeff Penza, who finished last season as the state's most prolific jockey with 136 wins, is in line to claim Provincial Jockey Of The Year honours while the Provincial Apprentice Jockey Of The Year is set to go to Rachel King.
On the country circuit, four horses – Eckstein, The Monstar, Green Sweet, and Quatronic, have been entered for the Horse Of The Year prize.
Highway specialist Matthew Dunn has been nominated for the Country Trainer Of The Year Award alongside Brett Thompson and Trevor Sutherland.
The full list of finalists for each category can be found below:
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COUNTRY |
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Simon Nivison Special Achievement Award No finalists are announced for this award. |
Country TAB Race Club of the Year Moruya Jockey Club Murrumbidgee Turf Club Muswellbrook Race Club Wellington Jockey Club |
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Community Race Club of the Year Berrigan & District Race Club Bong Bong Picnic Race Club Deepwater Jockey Club Gilgandra Jockey Club |
Country Trainer of the Year Brett Thompson Matthew Dunn Trevor Sutherland |
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Country Horse of the Year Eckstein Green Sweet The Monstar Quatronic |
Country Leading Apprentice of the Year Jean Van Overmeire |
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Country Jockey of the Year Greg Ryan Rachael Murray Robert Thompson |
Leading Approved Rider of the Year Ricky Blewitt |
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PROVINCIAL |
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Ted McCabe Provincial Recognition Award No finalists are announced for this award. |
Provincial Jockey of the Year Jeff Penza |
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Provincial Apprentice Jockey of the Year Rachel King |
Provincial Trainer of the Year Kris Lees |
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Provincial Horse of the Year - Finalists Le Romain Sense of Occasion The Mission |
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