By Darren Cartwright
Several TAB Queensland Racing Carnival Group 1 winners have been unveiled as finalists in Racing Australia’s Racehorse of the Year Awards.
Queensland Oaks champion Gypsy Goddess, trained by David Vandyke, along with the Rob Heathcote-trained Startantes, who claimed the Sky Racing Tattersall's Tiara headline the Sunshine State’s prospects.
The two Group 1 winners, as well as Gold Coast-trained Golden Slipper runner-up Best Of Bordeaux, are in line for Racing Australia’s highest accolades, to be unveiled at a gala event in Melbourne on September 3.
Both Gypsy Goddess (pictured) and Startantes are finalists in the Champion 3YO Filly category, along with Queensland Oaks runner-up Barb Raider, multiple Group winner Fangirl and former Queensland-trained and Surround Stakes winner Hinged.
Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said that having two Queensland horses out of five nominations for Champion 3YO Filly again underlines the strength of both our local crop of stars, as well as the TAB Queensland Racing Carnival.
“When you add Barb Raider, who was second in the Oaks, into the mix, it shows the depth in the quality of horses that competed at the Carnival,” he said.
“It would be a great result for Queensland’s racing history and proof of the hard work our trainers do week in, week out, to get their horses ready for major races if one of them could take out the Award.
“It’s an honour for both David and Robert that their horses have been nominated.”
The finalists, including Startantes pictured, in each category have been determined from votes cast by a panel of racing media and handicappers across each state and territory.
Winners of each category will be eligible for the Australian Racehorse of the Year.
Best Of Bordeaux (pictured) was impressive enough to be adjudged a finalist in the Champion 2YO category from just three race starts.
The Kacy Fodgen-trained son of Snitzel won its first two races - both at Rosehill - before a gallant second in the Group 1 Golden Slipper behind Fireburn, who has also been nominated for the category.
The other nominations in the Champion 2YO category are JJ Atkins winner Sheeza Belter, Champagne Stakes winner She’s Extreme and Blue Diamond champion Daumier.
Elsewhere, the strength of the Queensland breeding industry has also been honoured, with Darling Downs products Incentivise and Hinged both recognised for their stellar seasons.
Bred at Windemere Stud by Steve Tregea, who also trained the star gelding before he was transferred to Peter Moody’s stable in Melbourne, Incentivise won three successive Group 1 races in spring - including the Caulfield Cup - before running a gallant second to Very Ellegant in the 2021 Melbourne Cup.
Hinged, formerly trained in Toowoomba by Michael Nolan, was transferred to Chris Waller following an incredibly successful two-year-old season in Queensland.
As a three-year-old, Hinged (pictured) went on to claim the Group 1 Surround Stakes, before placing in successive top-level features – the Coolmore Classic and the Vinery Stud Stakes.
“The Darling Downs has been renowned for its breeding success in recent years, and the recognition for both Hinged and Incentivise only adds to the strength of the Queensland breeding industry,” Mr Parnell said.
“They are also a testament to the intrinsic value of QTIS for Queensland’s breeding industry.”
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)