The Australian Turf Club hosted over 500 guests in a joint event with Thoroughbred Breeders’ NSW and the National Jockeys Trust at Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes day at Royal Randwick. The event raised much-needed funds for the charity while presentations were made to the winners of the 2019 NSW Breeders Awards.
The awards once again showcased the fact Australia’s greatest thoroughbred champions are sourced from the state’s prime breeding regions. TBNSW President Stuart Lamont introduced the awards, with winners presented by Bred To Win’s Caroline Searcy and partnered sponsors including Goldners Horse Transport, Horsepower, G1 Goldmine, HQ Insurance and with assistance from the ATC and IRT.
The Goldners Horse Transport NSW Small Breeder Of The Year was the late Noel Leckie who bred three Group and Listed Winners in the 2018-19 Season, Houtzen, Most Important and Voodoo Lad. Accepting the award was Noel’s wife Julie Leckie, who said the award honoured his lifelong passion for racing and would have been Noel’s proudest moment in thoroughbred breeding.
The Horsepower NSW Champion First Season Sire was won by Sidestep (Exceed and Excel) who stood his first season for Darley Australia at Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley of NSW. That season produced 21 runners and 6 winners of 10 races. Sidestep’s top stakes-winner was Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi, also bred by Darley, with his overall progeny earnings totalling over $2.5 million. Godolphin’s Kelvinside Stud Manager Barley Ward-Thomas proudly accepted the award for the Darley Stallions’ team, while Dan Fletcher was also in attendance, the owner of Queensland’s Telemon Thoroughbreds where Sidestep currently stands.
The G1 Goldmine NSW Champion Broodmare of The Year award was accepted by Arrowfield Stud’s Alison Brassil for the deeds of St Therese (Dehere). Bred by Segenhoe Stud, and a stakes-winner of $234,000 herself, St Therese produced two group one winners in the past season at Arrowfield. Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile) won the 2018 ATC Spring Champion Stakes and Castelvecchio (Dundeel) the 2019 ATC Champagne Stakes. Sadly St Therese died recently at her Peppertree Farm base but Damien Kirwan and his team were left with a healthy filly foal.
The HQ Insurance NSW Champion Sire award was presented to Arrowfield Stud for their three-time Champion Australian Sire, Snitzel. The son of Redoute’s Choice was also Champion Australian Sire for worldwide earnings the past two years. In the last racing season, Snitzel sired 346 runners for 180 winners of 290 races. With progeny earnings of over $24 million his top money earner, dual The Everest Champion, NSW-bred, Redzel was supported by many other stakes-winner throughout the year.
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 new season.
Thoroughbred Breeders NSW Media contact: media@tbnsw.com.au
