Amanda Benson honours late jockey in QOTT award win

By Andrew Smith

Amanda Benson never met the late jockey Shane McGovern, but is committed to honouring his memory through the retraining of one of his retired gallopers.

And she believes the ‘world-leading’ Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) Program is providing that platform for thoroughbred and standardbred horses to thrive in their lives after racing.

The Dulong-based retrainer was crowned the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year at the recent 2026 Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.

Benson received the honour for the second straight year, beating out fellow finalist Alexandra Kelly.

The 53-year-old said the QOTT Program had been instrumental in taking her retraining to another level.

“It’s a huge honour to win - I just love thoroughbreds, and I love everything about them,” Benson said.

“I feel so lucky that I get to work with them every day, I love how willing they are, and their work ethic, and they're good at everything.

“The program has given me a life after having children.

“After speaking to friends recently from other states, I feel like the Queensland Off-The-Track Program's leading the world in the way they do things.

“The way they help and support retrainers and help horses when they finish racing, I am very lucky to be involved.”

Benson has 13 off-the-track horses in her care at the moment, having successfully retrained and rehomed 56 retired racehorses since joining the QOTT Program.

She retrained Desert Icon who came to her from the Chris Waller stable, with the former galloper transitioning into dressage and showjumping competitions.

Nashira, a gelding who had six wins from 32 starts for Eagle Farm trainer Matt Hoysted, has also been with Benson for the last nine months.

The former galloper is enjoying a new life in the cross-country and show jumping disciplines, and will head to Equimillion in Sydney in October.

But it is Benson’s connection with the late jockey Shane McGovern and his trainer wife Kim that has given her some of her greatest joy.

The Charters Towers-based conditioner has been sending her former stable stars south to Benson at her property in the Sunshine Coast region for several years, all primed and ready for their new careers.

“Kim has been sending horses to me since I became a retrainer - I think I've had five or six from Kim so far, and she's just been amazing to deal with,” Benson said.

“All of her horses arrive in magnificent condition, they look like show hacks.

“She doesn't send them to me until their manes have been pulled and their hooves have been trimmed, and they're all the most beautiful types.

“I just feel incredibly lucky that Kim has chosen me to send her beautiful horses to.”

Veteran hoop Shane tragically passed away after succumbing to injuries sustained during a trackwork incident in early April.

One of the last horses he rode on the racetrack was Tuck, who had enjoyed stints with premier Brisbane conditioner Tony Gollan and the-then Ciaron Maher-David Eustace stable in Victoria in 2023.

The gelding landed with the McGoverns in mid-2024 and notched one win and several minor placings around the Queensland country circuit before being retired in January of this year.

Tuck is now settling into his post-racing life with Benson, who is confident the thoroughbred can show the same discipline in retirement as he did on the racetrack, as a lasting tribute to Shane.

“I think he could probably take on the world in eventing, he's just an absolute superstar horse,” Benson said.

“I hope that in Shane's honour he does take on the world because he's just a lovely, lovely horse.

“I love sending Kim updates - I've never actually met Kim, but I feel like I know her.

“She's so awesome to communicate with, and when I send her updates about her horses, you just cannot imagine the excitement that she has.

“Without knowing her, I think she's an awesome person, and Shane obviously was as well.”

Former McGovern-trained galloper Jig Time Gal will also head to this year’s Equimillion after her first competition outing earlier this week at the Maroochy Pony Club Show Jumping.

Benson was quick to thank her support crew who have allowed her to take her retraining to the next level.

“My husband Brett, he does a lot at home - he has his own earth working business, but he fixes fences,” Benson said.

“I've just been overseas for a few weeks, and he was on PM feed-up duty, and he does a lot to help me.

“Also thanks to a wonderful young girl, Aimee, who's my second in charge.

“She's only 17, but she comes every day to help and does lots of the competing with the horses.

 “Together, Aimee and I are a great team, but it would be very difficult without her.”

RQ Senior Animal Care Manager Kim Duffy said Amanda’s back-to-back win was a wonderful reflection of the quality, consistency and commitment she brought to every horse in her care.

“Winning this award once is an incredible achievement, but to be recognised as the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year for a second consecutive year is testament to the exceptional work Amanda continues to do to help retired racehorses transition into successful second careers,” Ms Duffy said.

“She has an incredible ability to recognise the individual strengths of each horse and help them find their next purpose, and her passion for seeing these horses succeed is evident in everything she does.

“There are so many talented people across Queensland working hard to give retired racehorses a second chance, and Amanda’s back-to-back recognition highlights the incredible difference these dedicated retrainers can make in the lives of these horses.”

Click here for more information on the QOTT Acknowledged Retrainers Program.