Spicy Martini has been crowned Queensland Horse of the Year at the 2026 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.
The Toby Edmonds-trained mare broke through for her maiden Group 1 victory by taking out this year’s time-honoured Stradbroke Handicap in her twelfth race start.
The five-year-old also finished as runner-up in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, while also claiming the Listed Ascot Handicap earlier in the season.
Additionally, she was named the Queensland 4YO and Older Horse of the Year at this afternoon’s Awards ceremony.
For his breakthrough Group 1 victory in the saddle on Spicy Martini, jockey Taylor Marshall was awarded with the Darby McCarthy Performance of the Year.
Tony Gollan extended his reign as the state’s premier trainer, claiming the Jim Atkins Trainer of the Year Award for the 13th straight season.
Gollan saddled up 213 winners across the state, the most of any trainer, whilst also claiming the Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership with 147 victories.
The master trainer’s rising star Pembrey was crowned the 2YO Horse of the Year after a solid debut season in which she claimed the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes and lined up in the Golden Slipper at Rosehill in March.
Ben Thompson was crowned the George Moore Queensland Jockey of the Year, after taking out the Metropolitan Jockeys Premiership with 99.5 wins.
Rising star Jace McMurray was named the Ken Russell Queensland Apprentice of the Year in a season that saw him notch 49 wins statewide, along with the Metropolitan Apprentice Jockey Premiership.
Racing Minister Tim Mander praised the efforts of the thoroughbred industry in what was another record-breaking season for the code in the Sunshine State.
“The Queensland Thoroughbred Awards are an important opportunity to recognise the achievements of hardworking participants in our sport,” Minister Mander said.
“From South-East Queensland to the very far reaches of the state, thoroughbred racing continues to play a significant role in the community, supporting jobs, local economies and a proud sporting tradition.
“Congratulations to all winners, and also those who were nominated, as we celebrate another remarkable year of thoroughbred racing in Queensland.”
The Kelly Schweida-trained Grafterburners held out some strong competition from Brave Monarch, Earn To Burn and Foreign Press to claim the 3YO Horse of the Year, with four wins in a row capped off by the Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO Plate in January.
Connections of Queensland Horse of the Year nominee Rothfire did not go home empty-handed, with the veteran named QTIS Horse of the Year following his fairytale Doomben 10,000 victory.
“Queensland racing continues to go from strength to strength, and its depth of talent was undoubtedly reflected in yet another strong field of finalists for the Horse of the Year Award,” Acting Racing Queensland CEO Lachlan Murray said.
“Spicy Martini claiming the code’s top honour is thoroughly deserved following a remarkable win in the Stradbroke Handicap, where she became the first Queensland-trained horse to win our great race since 2020.
“Away from the track, it was great to be able to acknowledge the hard work of our QOTT Queensland Acknowledged Thoroughbred Retrainer of the Year, Amanda Benson, and our RQ Student of the Year, Chloe Lowe.”
Former jockey Jim Byrne was inducted into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame for his glittering career that included seven Group 1 victories, multiple Queensland premierships, and more than 2,900 career wins.
He was joined by champion racehorse Planet Ruler, who claimed 10 straight metropolitan victories in Queensland in the late 1980s, as well as winning a Group 1 race in five consecutive seasons which included the 1992 Honda Stakes (now known as the VRC Champions Mile) as an eight-year-old.
Trainer Jack Booth was also inducted for his efforts as a leading conditioner in the 1920s which saw him once train 10 of the 21 winners in the-then Queensland Turf Club’s three-day winter carnival.
The final inductee was revered Queensland thoroughbred breeder and long-time industry figure Basil Nolan, who was recognised for his decades of service to horse racing in the state.
In total, 27 awards were handed out at the 2026 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards this afternoon.
