The new Australian racing season is just a few weeks old but to round the ‘old’ one, the finalists for the Australian Racehorse of the Year across seven categories have been released.
The awards take into account performances on Australian tracks as well as international efforts by Australian-trained horses during the period from 1 August 2021 to 31 July 2022.
Trainer Chris Waller has the largest representation with five horses among the finalists while the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable and Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde have three apiece – the latter with his trio all in the Champion Jumper category.
Looking towards the upcoming springtime features, the finalists include last Saturday’s Group 1 Winx Stakes winner Anamoe who is nominated across two categories, star Queensland filly Gypsy Goddess, and 2021 Australian Racehorse of the Year and Melbourne Cup hero Verry Elleegant who is nominated in the stayers section.
Nature Strip headlines the sprinter finalists.
The category finalists for the 2021-22 Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards are:
Champion 2YO Finalists
• Best of Bordeaux (Kacy Fogden)• Daumier (Anthony & Sam Freedman)• Fireburn (Gary Portelli)• Sheeza Belter (Peter & Paul Snowden)• She’s Extreme (Anthony Cummings)
Champion 3YO Filly Finalists
• Barb Raider (Jerome Hunter)• Fangirl (Chris Waller)• Gypsy Goddess (David Vandyke)• Hinged (Chris Waller)• Startantes (Robert Heathcote)
Champion 3YO Colt or Gelding Finalists
• Anamoe (James Cummings)• Artorius (Anthony & Sam Freedman)• Hitotsu (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace)• Home Affairs (Chris Waller)• Mazu (Peter & Paul Snowden)Champion Sprinter Finalists
• Eduardo (Joe Pride)• Forbidden Love (Richard & Michael Freedman)• Home Affairs (Chris Waller)• Lost And Running (John O’Shea)• Nature Strip (Chris Waller)
Champion Middle Distance Finalists
• Anamoe (James Cummings)• Duais (Edward Cummings)• Incentivise (Peter Moody)• State of Rest (Joseph O’Brien)• Think It Over (Kerry Parker)• Zaaki (Annabel Neasham)
Champion Stayer Finalists
• Duais (Edward Cummings)• Hitotsu (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace)• Incentivise (Peter Moody)• Montefilia (David Payne)• Verry Elleegant (Chris Waller)
Champion Jumper Finalists
• Britannicus (Symon Wilde)• Elvison (Symon Wilde)• Flying Agent (Amy McDonald)• Heberite (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace)• Saunter Boy (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace)• Vanguard (Symon Wilde)