Jumps Star A Finalist For Victorian Horse Of The Year
- Wednesday, 28 July 2010 02:59
Black And Bent, the versatile jumps racing star, has moved a step closer to a fairytale victory in the 2010 Staging Connections Victorian Racehorse of the Year award.
The Australian and Galleywood Hurdle winner has today been named as one five finalists for the coveted award following the collation of votes from members of the Victorian media.
Voters were presented with a list of the 10 most outstanding equine performers on Victorian tracks this season from which to make their selection. The top five vote getters are the finalists.
The remaining four finalists are Emirates Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, Tatts Cox Plate winner So You Think and multiple Group 1 winners Starspangledbanner and Typhoon Tracy.
The winner will be announced at the Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Awards presented by Tabcorp at Crown’s Palladium on Sunday night, 8 August.
In a remarkable 2009-10 season, the Robert Smerdon-trained Black And Bent tasted more success than any other on Victorian tracks with four hurdle and four flat wins.
If victorious he would snap the recent domination of sprinters with West Australian star Scenic Blast awarded the title last year, Weekend Hussler in 2008 and Miss Andretti in 2007.
The five finalists for the title of Staging Connections Victorian Racehorse of the Year are (statistics relate to performances on Victorian tracks from 1 August 2009);
1. Black And Bent – 14 starts, 8 wins, 1 placing
The most successful horse in Victoria this season with four flat and four hurdle wins
2. Shocking – 9 starts, 2 wins (1 x G1), 3 placings
Winner of the Emirates Melbourne Cup
3. So You Think – 3 starts, 1 win (G1), 1 placing
Least experienced horse in history to win the Tatts Cox Plate at just his fifth start
4. Starspangledbanner – 8 starts, 4 wins (2 x G1), 1 placing
Group 1 winner at 1100m defeating older horses and at 1600m against three-year-olds
5. Typhoon Tracy – 7 starts, 4 wins (3 x G1), 2 placings
Triple Group 1 winner with victories in the Myer Classic, Sportingbet Orr Stakes and Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes
A range of awards will be presented alongside the Staging Connections Victorian Racehorse of the Year award at Crown on 8 August including;
- Scobie Breasley Medal presented by Tabcorp
- Fred Hoysted Medal presented by Sport 927
- Tommy Corrigan Medal presented by Thoroughbred Racing Productions
- TVN Most Memorable Moment Award
Bookings for Victorian racing’s night of nights can be made by visiting racingvictoria.net.au/events or by calling Customer First on 1300 139 401.
Picture: Colin Bull
