New South Wales’ breeders again proved Australia’s great champions are sourced from the state’s prime breeding regions at the annual award presentation for achievements during the 2017-2018 racing season.
The Australian Turf Club kindly hosted TBNSW members and sponsors at the Directors’ Lunch during Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes Day on Saturday at Royal Randwick.
TBNSW Director Hamish Esplin introduced the awards, with winners announced by Bred To Win’s Caroline Searcy and sponsors including IRT, Horsepower, G1 Goldmine, HQ Insurance, the ATC and Ranvet.
The title of Ranvet NSW Small Breeder Of The Year was awarded to Mary Jane Basson who bred Queensland Derby winner Dark Dream. (All American) He was only the sixth foal Basson had bred, being from her Lion Hunter mare Buchanan Girl who cost only $800.00 and traces back to the famous Leica family. While he has been sold to Hong Kong Basson assured the room a repatriation clause means he will eventually return to Australia to retire at his birthplace.
The Horsepower NSW Champion First Season Sire was won by Widden Stud’s Zoustar (Northern Meteor) who was also crowned Australian Champion Sire for the season. With record earnings of over $3.2 million including three group-winning first crop two-year-olds. Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson highlighted the fact Zoustar currently has two of the top four favourites in next week’s $1 million Golden Rose.
Julia Ritchie, newly elected Vice-Chair of the Australian Turf Club presented the award for Champion NSW Sire of Two-Year-Olds to Jon Freyer of Arrowfield Stud for the second year in succession, for their dual Champion Australian sire Snitzel. (Redoute’s Choice). Freyer noted Snitzel’s two year-olds earnt $3.6 million last season, highlighted by Golden Slipper winner Estijaab, plus Nomothaj, Prairie Fire and Sandbar who between them won six group and listed races.
The G1 Goldmine NSW Champion Broodmare of The Year was accepted by Willow Park’s Jade Rossington on behalf of Busking’s (Encosta De Lago) owner and breeder Michael Thomas. Busking is the dam of triple group one winner Happy Clapper and 2018 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (G2) winner Not A Single Cent. Thomas bought the mare back as a 9yo for $13,000 in foal to Teofilo, the resultant foal the $6.3 million earner Happy Clapper, who Thomas had travelled to Flemington to watch in the Makybe Diva Stakes (G1).
The final award for the HQ Insurance NSW Champion Sire was also presented to dual Champion Australian Sire Snitzel, with Jon Freyer collecting the award on behalf of Arrowfield Stud. Snitzel’s offspring earnt a record $29.2 million in the 2017-2018 season with his 26 stakes-winners again equalling Danehill’s record, headed by four group one winners, 2yo Estijaab, 3yo Trapeze Artist, 4yo Russian Revolution and 5yo Everest winner Redzel.
Thoroughbred Breeders New South Wales congratulates all winners and thanks all sponsors in particular the Australian Turf Club for its hospitality and looks ahead to more breed-shaping results from NSW breeders in the new season.
Thoroughbred Breeders NSW Media contact: media@tbnsw.com.au
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