A PACKED house of 400 industry leaders, clients, supporters and VIPs attended the Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (HTBA) 2018 annual awards in Scone on Wednesday night to recognise the Hunter’s elite equine athletes.
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“As the second largest concentration of studs in the world, and Australia’s premier thoroughbred breeding industry, the breadth and depth of talent of our people and the success of our equine athletes is world renowned,” HTBA president Cameron Collins said.
“We are very proud and privileged to recognise their achievements.”
In line with previous years, all equine athlete categories were keenly-contested.
Million-dollar baby Estijaab, daughter of Arrowfield’s champion sire Snitzel out of Response and winner of the 2018 Golden Slipper, claimed this year’s 2018 HTBA Champion 2 year old filly award.
Estijaab was bred by Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd.
The 2018 HTBA 2 year old filly award, sponsored by Scone Race Club, was presented by CEO Heath Courtney and accepted by Arrowfield’s general manager Paul Messara.
The 2018 HTBA Champion 2 year old colt award, sponsored by International Animal Health Products, was awarded to Santos, son of Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible, out of Ghaliah.
Santos was bred by Emirates Park.
The 2018 HTBA 2 year old colt award was presented by International
Animal Health Product’s managing director Chris Lawlor and accepted by Dr Shalabh of Emirates Park.
The 2018 HTBA Champion 3 year old filly was awarded to multi Group 1 winner Shoals.
Daughter of
Coolmore’s champion sprinter and champion sire, Fastnet Rock and out of The Broken Shire, Shoals was bred by Arrowfield Pastoral and GSA Bloodstock.
The 2018 HTBA 3 year old filly award was sponsored by Pages Events was presented by Geoff Yallop, business manager for Pages Events, and accepted by Messara.
Winner of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, Kementari, son of Godolphin’s Champion miler, Horse of the Year, and Champion sire Lonhro out of Yavanna, received the 2018 HTBA 3 year old colt award.
Kementari was bred by Godolphin.
The 2018 3 year old colt award, sponsored by Morgan and
English Lawyers and Solicitors, was presented by Annette English, managing partner of Morgan and English and accepted by Golodphin’s managing director, Vin Cox.
For the third consecutive year, the 2018 Champion Racehorse was awarded to the world’s best racehorse, Winx.
Daughter of Godophin’s Street Cry out of Vegas Showgirl, bred by Fairway
Thoroughbreds and raised by Coolmore, Winx is Australia’s darling of the racetrack.
She has surpassed the legendary Phar Lap’s racing record and, to date, matched Black Caviar’s record of 25 unbeaten wins.
The 2018 Champion Racehorse award, sponsored by Goldners Equine Transport, was presented by Goldner’s chairman Charles Jennings and accepted by Maria Pikhotska of Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds.
For the third successive season, Vegas Showgirl, dam of Winx, was awarded the 2018 HTBA Champion Broodmare award.
The award was presented by Dr David O’Meara on behalf of the award’s sponsor, Scone Equine Hospital and accepted by John McConnell of Segenhoe Stud on behalf of Vegas Showgirl’s owners, Fairway Thoroughbreds.
Dual Group 1 winner and first horse to win the Golden Rose and Ascot Vale (Coolmore) Stakes double, Zoustar was awarded 2018 HTBA Champion First Season Sire.
Son of Widden’s Northern Meteor out of ZouZou, Zoustar’s first crop of 2 year olds include winners such as Sunlight and Madam Rouge.
The 2018 HTBA Champion First Season Sire award, sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research, was presented Peter Huntington and accepted by Widden’s owner, Anthony Thompson.
The 2018 HTBA Champion Sire was awarded to Arrowfield’s Snitzel.
Son of champion sire, Redoute’s Choice, Snitzel’s 2016/17 tally of 26 Australian stakes winners equalled his famous grandfather Danehill’s, record and Snitzel’s tally of 35 juvenile winners achieved a new mark.
Chris Russell, William Inglis and Son’s Bloodstock manager, presented the award on behalf of the sponsor, which was accepted by Arrowfield’s general manager Paul Messara.
“The HTBA warmly congratulates all 2018 award winners and extends our appreciation to all sponsors for their support of these awards and the HTBA’s activities to promote and protect the Hunter’s world leading thoroughbred breeding industry,” Collins said.
“The HTBA also thanks our awards media partner, Sky Racing, who will be telecasting highlights of the awards night on their Bred to Win program.”
