Colt Thirty One has confirmed his standing as one of the Sunshine State’s greatest ever standardbreds after securing tonight’s top accolade at the 2020 TAB Queensland Harness Awards in Brisbane.
The Grant Dixon-trained pacer was crowned the TAB Queensland Harness Horse of the Year for a third straight occasion, edging out fellow finalists Governor Jujon and Majestic Simon following another remarkably consistent campaign.
From 34 starts in season 2019/20, the six-year-old claimed 14 wins and 13 placings, including three Group 3 races, as well as a triumph in the 2019 Group 2 Queensland Cup followed by a second placing in its 2020 iteration.
He also ran a formidable second placing to one of the nation’s premier pacers, King Of Swing, while attempting to defend his crown in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake, finishing the season amassing $276,849 in stakes.
Colt Thirty One was also named the Queensland Aged Pacer of the Year and the Albion Park Harness Racing Club Horse of the Year.
The son of Mach Three joins Blacks A Fake and Avonova as three-time Horse-of-the-Year winners, and along with Avonova, is the only horse to claim the Award in three successive years.
Not surprisingly, Dixon, who trained a nation-high 380 winners, was named both Australian and Queensland Trainer of the Year, among a raft of other accolades.
Horse of the Year finalist Majestic Simon, trained by Chantal Turpin, was named the Garrards Trotter of the Year after claiming 10 wins from 29 starts in season 2019/20, including both the Group 2 Darrell Alexander Trotting Championship and Group 3 Jim McNeil Trotting Championship.
Chantal Turpin enjoyed further success on the evening, with her Group 1-winning two-year-old Big Wheels taking home the Sky Racing 2YO Pacer of the Year.
Pete McMullen capped off a stellar season in the sulky, driving home 205 winners across the state at a winning strike rate of 15% to take out the Garrards Driver of the Year.
Another Horse of the Year finalist in Governor Jujon was named the Sky Racing 3YO Pacer of the Year after taking home five Group races in Queensland, as well as the Group 2 Simpson Memorial in Menangle, and heats of both the NSW and Victoria Derby.
Finally, Pelosi – trained by Anna Woodmansey – made it back-to-back Filly or Mare of the Year triumphs, sharing the gong with Wayne Graham’s Justalittle Torque.
“Colt Thirty One has once again proven to be Queensland’s exceptional pacer and is a deserving Horse-of-the-Year winner for an incredible third year in a row,” Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said.
“His remarkable consistency saw him once again compete with the nation’s best pacers, highlighted by his fantastic second placing to King Of Swing in this year’s Group 1 TAB Blacks A Fake.
“Grant Dixon has also been appropriately recognised for another record-breaking season, claiming both state and national Trainer of the Year awards.
“I congratulate all award winners, and look forward to another brilliant harness racing season here in the Sunshine State.”
In total, 44 Awards of distinction were presented at the event.
2020 TAB Queensland Harness Award Winners
- TAB Queensland Harness Horse of the Year – Colt Thirty One (Grant Dixon)
- Garrards Queensland Trotter of the Year – Majestic Simon (Chantal Turpin)
- Garrards Queensland Trainer of the Year – Grant Dixon
- Garrards Queensland Driver of the Year – Pete McMullen
- Queensland Filly or Mare of the Year – Pelosi (Anna Woodmansey) and Justalittle Torque (Wayne Graham)
- Queensland Aged Pacer of the Year – Colt Thirty One (Grant Dixon)
- Sky Racing Queensland 3YO Pacer of the Year – Governor Jujon (Grant Dixon)
- Sky Racing Queensland 2YO Pacer of the Year – Big Wheels (Chantal Turpin)
- Queensland Broodmare of the Year – Washington Lass
- Queensland Breeder of the Year – Burwood Stud
- Queensland Owner of the Year – Solid Earth P/L and Dr John Mammino (tie)
- Queensland Concession Driver of the Year – Angus Garrard
- Kevin & Kay Seymour Queensland Young Achiever Award (Female) – Chloe Butler
- Kevin & Kay Seymour Queensland Young Achiever Award (Male) – Angus Garrard
National Award Winners
- HRA National Award for Best Published Action or Still Photograph – Dan Costello
- HRA National Award for Best Print Historical Feature – Andrew Adermann
- HRA Australian Trainer of the Year – Grant Dixon
Albion Park Harness Racing Club
- Horse of the Year – Colt Thirty One (Grant Dixon)
- Drivers’ Premiership – Nathan Dawson
- Trainers’ Premiership – Grant Dixon
- Owner of the Year – Solid Earth P/L
- Mare of the Year – Justalittle Torque
Redcliffe Harness Racing Club
- Horse of the Year – Nikalong Henry (Doug Lee)
- Drivers’ Premiership – Nathan Dawson
- Trainers’ Premiership – Grant Dixon
- Concession Driver of the Year – Angus Garrard
- Mare of the Year – Ashlee Nitro
- Redcliffe Pegasus Award – Marburg Pacing Association Volunteers
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Marburg Harness Racing Club
- Horse of the Year – Scheu Creek (Ben Aldons)
- Drivers’ Premiership – Taleah McMullen
- Trainers of the Year – John McMullen
Breeders Owners Trainers and Reins-persons Association of Queensland Awards
- BOTRA Rookie of the Year (Male) – Angus Garrard
- BOTRA Rookie of the Year (Female) – Chloe Butler
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Trainer – Grant Dixon
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Trainer – Jack Butler
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Trainer – Chantal Turpin
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Grant Dixon
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Pete McMullen
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Narissa McMullen
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Nathan Dawson
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Paul Diebert
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Angus Garrard
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Taleah McMullen
- BOTRA Centurion Medal Driver – Adam Sanderson