The 2024 TAB Queensland Thoroughbred Awards finalists have this morning been unveiled.
This year’s Awards will be held a gala event at the brand-new The Star Brisbane on Sunday, September 22, recognising the Sunshine State’s most outstanding gallopers and participants over the past season.
In total, close to 30 awards will be presented – including Trainer, Jockey and Apprentice of the Year, as well as the TAB Queensland Horse of the Year.
The afternoon, presented by TAB as the major sponsor, will also see four new inductees into the Queensland Hall of Fame.
It’s a case of the old versus the new in the running for the top gong, with the Rob Heathcote-trained warhorse Rothfire nominated alongside stablemate Abounding and Tony Gollan’s top sprinter Antino.
Magic Millions 3YO Guineas champion Abounding headlines the nominations for 3YO Horse of the Year, alongside Cifrado and Miss Joeline, while Beau Dazzler, El Morzillo and Zouna will duke it out for 2YO Horse of the Year honours.
Antino and Rothfire also feature in the 4YO and Older Horse of the Year nominations, as well as Zarastro who has lapped up his time in the Sunshine State since arriving north 12 months ago.
Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott said the Queensland Thoroughbred Awards is a fantastic event to come together as an industry and celebrate the season’s outstanding achievements.
“Over the past 12 months, we have seen the emergence of genuine stars from the likes of Antino to Cejay Graham, and we look forward to another stellar evening celebrating an unforgettable season,” Mr Scott said.
“For the first time, we are pleased to introduce a new award for Stable Person of the Year, acknowledging the dedication of those behind the scenes at the coalface of the sport.
“Similarly, we’re proud to again recognise the vital support the Queensland Off-The-Track Program provides our animals post-racing through the Queensland Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year Award.”
Tony Gollan looks set to make it an 11th straight Queensland Trainer of the Year title, following another record-breaking season which saw him set a new benchmark of 147 metropolitan winners.
Rob Heathcote, Stuart Kendrick and Chris Waller were also recognised as nominees for their excellent respective seasons.
Two former winners in James Orman and Ryan Maloney are again in line for the George Moore Queensland Jockey of the Year title, alongside young guns Cejay Graham and Angela Jones.
Finally, Graham, who finished second in the Metropolitan Jockeys Premiership, has also been nominated for Queensland Apprentice of the Year, with Emily Lang and Bailey Wheeler her rivals.
Click here for further information about the 2024 TAB Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.
2024 TAB Thoroughbred Awards Finalists
TAB Queensland Horse of the Year
- Abounding
- Antino
- Rothfire
George Moore Queensland Jockey of the Year
- Cejay Graham
- Angela Jones
- James Orman
- Ryan Maloney
Ken Russell Queensland Apprentice of the Year
- Cejay Graham
- Emily Lang
- Bailey Wheeler
Jim Atkins Queensland Trainer of the Year
- Tony Gollan
- Rob Heathcote
- Stuart Kendrick
- Chris Waller
2YO Horse of the Year
- Beau Dazzler
- El Morzillo
- Zouna
3YO Horse of the Year
- Abounding
- Cifrado
- Miss Joelene
4YO and Older Horse of the Year
ALSO AWARDED ON THE NIGHT:
Horses of the Year
Breeding
- Queensland Broodmare of the Year
- Queensland Stallion of the Year
- Champion First Season Stallion
- Champion 2YO Stallion
Apprentice Awards
- Queensland Student of the Year
- Country Apprentice of the Year
- Provincial Apprentice of the Year
- Metropolitan Apprentice of the Year
Premierships
- Country Jockey Premiership
- Country Trainer Premiership
- Country Horse of the Year
- Provincial Jockey Premiership
- Provincial Trainer Premiership
- Provincial Horse of the Year
- Metropolitan Jockey Premiership
- Metropolitan Trainer Premiership
Other Awards
- Darby McCarthy Performance of the Year
- Queensland Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year
- Stable Person of the Year
- Four Queensland Hall of Fame inductees