On Villiers Stakes race-day at Royal Randwick on Saturday the Australian Turf Club hosted the 2021 Thoroughbred Breeders’ New South Wales annual awards in conjunction with the New South Wales Racehorse Owners’ Association. The event was a great way for NSW industry participants to see out the year.
The awards once again showcased Australia’s leading thoroughbred champions are sourced from the state’s prime breeding regions in NSW. Newly-elected TBNSW President Hamish Esplin introduced the awards, with winners announced by TBNSW Vice-President, Bred To Win’s Caroline Searcy. Representatives of TBNSW sponsors HQ Insurance, Horsepower Feeds and Supplements, G1 Goldmine, IRT, Carrazzo Consulting presented the awards listed below.
The NSW President’s Breeder Of The Year Award, sponsored by Carrazzo Consulting went to Mr Frank Meduri. With a breeding band of less than five mares at Amarina Farm in the Hunter Valley, Mr Meduri bred two stakes’ winners in the season. His mare Atotori (Haradasun) produced Kiku (2017) and Zoutori (2015) both by Widden Stud’s Zoustar (Northern Meteor). Zoutori won the VRC Newmarket (G1), Bobbie Lewis (G2) and Gilgai Stakes (G2) while Kiku won the AJC Carbine Club Stakes (G3). Sadly, the mare died in 2020, her last foal Kamitori (2019) a filly by Divine Prophet is set to start her career with trainer Kris Lees.
The Horsepower NSW Champion First Season Sire was won by Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) who stood his first season at Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley. That season produced 15 runners and 4 winners of 8 races for Extreme Choice, a remarkable 24% stakes winners to runners. His leading light was Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside, bred by Matthew Sandblom’s Kingstar Farm also located in the Hunter Valley, with his overall progeny earnings totalling over $2.2 million. Newgate Farm’s Managing Director Henry Field proudly accepted the award on behalf of his stallion team.
The G1 Goldmine NSW Champion Broodmare of The Year was awarded to Retsina with the award accepted by Darley Australia’s John Sunderland. The Redoute’s Choice mare was bred by Darley and produced two group winning mares last season, Savitiano (Street Cry) won the Canterbury Stakes (G1) in 2020 and three Group 2’s, the JJ Liston Stakes, the Breeders’ Classic and the Expressway Stakes. Another daughter Athiri (Lonhro) won the Razor Sharp Handicap this day last year as well as the listed Nudgee Quality in Brisbane.
The IRT Champion NSW Broodmare Sire was awards to Encosta De Lago, the award accepted by Paddy Power of Coolmore Australia. Encosta De Lago died in 2018 but his legacy will live on through his sire line descendents like Zoustar and Rubick, as well as through his daughters, who have made him champion broodmare sire.
The HQ Insurance Champion NSW Sire award was presented to Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible. The son of Invincible Spirit is a regular in the top three on the national sires-list and in the last racing season sired 358 runners including 208 winners of 335 races. With progeny earnings of over $15 million I Am Invincible’s top earners were Libertini and Dame Giselle supported by many other stakes-winners through the season.
Thoroughbred Breeders’ New South Wales congratulates all the winners and is extremely grateful to our valued sponsors as well as the Australian Turf Club for its hospitality and looks ahead to more racetrack success from NSW breeders in the current season.
