2026 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards finalists announced

A quartet of Group-winning stars will battle it out to be crowned Queensland Horse of the Year at the 2026 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.

The finalists for this year’s Awards have been unveiled ahead of the gala event at The Star Brisbane on Sunday, August 30, recognising the Sunshine State’s most outstanding gallopers and participants over the past season.

The race for the top gong will be one of the closest in years with all four nominees in Rothfire, Spicy Martini, Transatlantic and Yellow Brick enjoying feature race success last season.

Old warhorse Rothfire is in line for the state’s most coveted award following his fairytale Doomben 10,000 victory, while Spicy Martini’s win in the time-honoured Stradbroke Handicap also has the galloper as a strong contender.

Tony Gollan’s star Transatlantic also claimed Group 1 glory earlier in the season with the Toorak Handicap, while Yellow Brick enjoyed a standout season with victories in the Group 3 W.J. Healy Stakes and the $1 million The Archer.

The quartet also double as the four nominees for the 4YO and Older Horse of the Year award.

Magic Millions Sunlight winner Grafterburners and Queensland Guineas victor Brave Monarch will go toe-to-toe with Foreign Press and Earn To Burn for 3YO Horse of the Year honours, while Boomelli, Cool Gent, Itchintogo, Martist and Pembrey are the 2YO Horse of the Year nominees.

Acting RQ CEO Lachlan Murray said the Horse of the Year finalists were one of the strongest group seen in recent years.

“The star power on show in Queensland has again risen to the top over the last 12 months, with three individual Group 1 winners amongst the finalists sure to make the final decision tough for the judging panel,” Mr Murray said.

“At the same time, it’s important to recognise the vital support the Queensland Off-The-Track Program provides our animals post-racing, which will be celebrated through the Queensland Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year Award.

“I’d like to wish the best of luck to all of our nominees, and look forward to celebrating another historic season at The Star later this month.” 

In total, 27 awards will be presented – including Queensland Trainer, Jockey and Apprentice of the Year, as well as the Darby McCarthy Performance of the Year. 

The afternoon will also see four new inductees – Jack Booth (Trainer), Jim Byrne (Jockey), Basil Nolan (Associate) and Planet Ruler (Horse) – welcomed into the Queensland Hall of Fame.

Tony Gollan headlines the nominees for the Queensland Trainer of the Year, looking to take out a 13^th straight title following another outstanding season in which he notched up 150 metropolitan victories across the nation.

Toby Edmonds and Rob Heathcote are also recognised as nominees for their excellent respective seasons in which both stables claimed Group 1 victories, alongside Chris and Corey Munce.

The George Moore Queensland Jockey of the Year title race will also go down to the wire with a strong field including Ryan Maloney, Ben Thompson, Angela Jones and Taylor Marshall. 

Finally, premiership winners Jace McMurray, Bella Youngberry and Maddie Mankelow headline the field of nominees for Queensland Apprentice of the Year, alongside fellow young guns Jasper Franklin and Nikki Olzard.

Click here for further information about the 2026 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.

2026 THOROUGHBRED AWARDS FINALISTS