Warwick Stakes favourite First Seal will begin her four-year-old campaign as the newly crowned NSW Horse of the Year.
The NSW Racehorse Owners’ Awards announced on Thursday night are based on a points system for performances in black type races with the Flight Stakes winner coming out on top.
First Seal, which runs in Saturday’s Group Two Warwick Stakes, was also named the Three-Year-Old of the Year and the Queen of the Autumn.
Dual Group One winner Pride Of Dubai beat off Golden Slipper winner Vancouver as the champion juvenile while the globetrotting Criterion was the Middle Distance Horse of the Year.
The night also recognised the human champions with premier trainer Chris Waller again winning the Bart Cummings Medal, decided on votes from the racing media.
Waller also collected the TJ Smith Award as Sydney’s leading trainer.
“Chris Waller and his team constantly do an amazing job and deserve all the plaudits that come their way,” Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys said.
“Taking out five successive Bart Cummings Medals against some of the finest jockeys and trainers anywhere in the world is an incredible achievement.”
Hugh Bowman received his award as the leading Sydney jockey and Winona Costin took home the Theo Green award as the leading apprentice.
Jockey Blake Shinn was voted the NSW Racing Writers’ Personality of the Year.
Retired broadcaster John Tapp and veteran journalist Ken Callander were joint winners of the NSWROA Industry Recognition Award.
WINNERS:
CHAMPION HORSE OF THE YEAR: First Seal
NSWROA INDUSTRY RECOGNITION AWARD: John Tapp and Ken Callander
2YO: Pride Of Dubai
3YO: First Seal
Sprinter: Chautauqua
Miler: Royal Descent
Middle Distance: Criterion
Stayer: Grand Marshal
Queen of the Autumn: First Seal
Provincial: Lucia Valentina
Country: Scissor Kick
