The 2024-25 Sydney Strapper of The Year has been announced, and for this its 16th year its Lenny Todd of Ciaron Maher Racing who is the season’s champion.
Presented at the NSW Racehorse Owners Association’s prestigious “Night of Champions,” it recognises the behind-the-scenes efforts by strappers who tend to go beyond the call of duty.
Selected by a Racing NSW panel, the award is peer-nominated with strappers who worked at metropolitan race meetings invited to nominate whose they think is deserving of the award.
Sponsored by Racing NSW and co-ordinated by Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy, Lenny Todd was chosen the winner from the short-list of 9 finalists from 9 different stables.
“Lenny loved I Am Me, and long after the rest of the stable had clocked off you’d find Lenny giving her an extra massage and grooming her,” said trainer Ciaron Maher.
“Reliable and trustworthy, he’s much more than a one-horse man, and sent on “one-man missions takes care of driving, strapping and saddling when with sole runners around NSW.”
“Lenny’s the man we turn to and takes pride in every horse, and is the definition of a brilliant team player – no job is too big or too small, and we’re lucky to have had him for so many years.”
I Am Me, St Lawrence, Railway Man, Cheval Savant are the horses strapped by Lenny in Sydney, and the retirement of sprinting mare I Am Me ‘no doubt left a small hole in Lenny’s heart.’
Having started strapping her in 2022, he strapped her in every one of her NSW starts, and as she improved there’s no doubt Lenny’s care and dedication played a part in her success.
Often after the rest of the stable had clocked off, Lenny giving her an extra massage with the massage gun or carefully grooming her to make sure she always looked immaculate — and she did!
Congratulations to all finalists, and its Allyssa Mitchell who straps Lady Extreme, Just Awesome for Blake Ryan having been his number one staff member since joining him four years ago.
Brad Williams is stable foreman Nathan Doyle and looking after Private Harry, Dalaalaat and Wooloowin also co-ordinates saddling and running the track work of forty-two horses.
Jeison Gamba straps Gold Pattern, Welcome Gypsy, Impunity, Welcome Red Sun, Jacob’s Ladder, Pure Hydrogen and Deceive for John Thompson, and has been a valued member for 2.5 years.
Lauren Smyth attends to Huetor, King of Roseau, King of Sparta, Beadman, Redzel, Coco Jamboo, and Memo for Peter Snowden and came from the UK in 2018 on a working holiday visa.
Madeline Shalders joined Joe Pride 9 months ago with strong industry experience, and in that time has strapped In Flight, Sounds Of Heaven, Aberlour, Headley Grange and The Replicant.
Melwin Mandy straps Rolling Magic, Pocketing, Piraeus and Coastwatch for Richard and Will Freedman, having hassled Will for an opportunity to work with horses, and no experience.
Michaela Shirvington has been with Tash Burleigh for over six years having never previously worked in a racing stable, and straps Poker Jack, Iron Will, Mosgold and To The Nines.
Robert Smith is Wayne Carroll’s backstop, and with 30 years’ experience looks after Salute Again, running the stable in the boss’s absence, includes doing all the feeds both morning and night.
Wendy Li looks after Existential Bob, Atishu, Maybe Moet, Bright Red, Make Mine Moet and She’s Got Veuve for Chris Waller, being the heart and soul of our stable and the definition of dedication.