ROAD TO THE MELBOURNE INGLIS READY 2 RACE INDUSTRY NEWS | 'PRIZE- CUP | READ THE THOUGHTS VENDOR PROFILE MONEY DISTRIBUTION VITAL OF OTI RACING'S TERRY BLAKE RYAN FACTOR IN RISING STRENGTH OF HENDERSON - PAGE 12 - PAGE 17 AUSTRALIAN RACING' - PAGE 14 Tuesday, October 6, 2020 | Dedicated to the Australasian bloodstock industry - subscribe for free: Click here STALLION WATCH - PAGE 19 YESTERDAY'S RACE RESULTS - PAGE 28 Nature Strip named Read Tomorrow's Issue For: Australian Racehorse Steve Moran What's on Race meetings: Goulburn (NSW), Orange of the Year (NSW), Donald (VIC), Mackay (QLD) Top sprinter joins greats of the turf as Waller dominates virtual Barrier trials / Jump-outs: Goulburn ceremony, presented from Brisbane (NSW), Orange (NSW), Caulfield (VIC), Colac (VIC), Doomben (QLD), Longford (TAS) International meetings: Catterick (UK), Leicester (UK), Lingfield (UK), Southwell (UK), Durbanville (SAF) International sales: Tattersalls October Yearling Sale - Book 1 (UK), Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale (USA) BY ANDREW HAWKINS | @ANZ_NEWS WINNERS ature Strip (6 g Nicconi - Strikeline CHAMPION 2YO - FARNAN CHAMPION 3YO COLT/GELDING - YES YES YES by Desert Sun) was last night CHAMPION 3YO FILLY - LOVING GABY named Australian Racehorse of CHAMPION SPRINTER - NATURE STRIP the Year for the 2019-20 season, CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE HORSE Ngiving trainer Chris Waller his fifth straight REGAL POWER/FIERCE IMPACT victory in Australia’s most prominent equine CHAMPION STAYER - VOW AND DECLARE award, while former stablemate Yes Yes Yes (4 c CHAMPION SIRE - SNITZEL GROUP 1 JOCKEY OF THE YEAR - CRAIG WILLIAMS Rubick - Sin Sin Sin by Fantastic Light) became GROUP 1 TRAINER OF THE YEAR CHRIS WALLER the first Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or CHAMPION JUMPER - TALLYHO TWINKLETOE Gelding to secure the title without a Group 1 win to his name. Continued on page 2>> Follow us @anz_news | 1 | Brought to you by Nature Strip named Australian Racehorse of the Year | 2 | Tuesday, October 6, 2020 << Continued from page 1 The ceremony was due to be held in Brisbane this year but, due to Covid-19 restrictions, was instead presented virtually by Sky Racing’s Bernadette Cooper from an empty Eagle Farm, being broadcast on both Sky Thoroughbred Central and Racing.com. Nature Strip had been widely expected to pick up the title in a year where he dominated the sprinting ranks, taking out the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m), the VRC Sprint Classic (Gr 1, 1200m) and the T J Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) in emphatic fashion. However, managing owner Rod Lyons still said it was a “pleasant surprise” to be able to join some of the champions of the Australian turf, like Winx (Street Cry), Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), Makybe Diva (Desert King), Might And Power (Zabeel) and Kingston Town (Bletchingly) as the country’s top horse. “It’s a wonderful thrill,” Lyons said. “There are some great horses around in this country, some great trainers, and so to have won this award is something quite special. I’m sure all of the owners across the length Nature Strip SPORTPIX and breadth of Australia and New Zealand are just as proud and thrilled as I am. Nature Strip behind the scenes making sure that he is well prepared and “A special thanks to Chris, to J-Mac (regular rider James McDonald) continues to peak throughout each preparation resulting in some really and particularly Stuey (Stuart Williams) who rides him work on a regular big wins. basis, he’s got him where he is today. This trophy is every bit as much “Obviously those who voted for him to be Australia’s Horse of the Year theirs as it is ours.” share our sentiments towards the horse and we are looking forward to the For Waller, who had won the award with Winx the last four years spring unfolding with some more exciting wins.” before adding a fifth title with Nature Strip, it was a satisfying result given Winx in 2016 had been the first Sydney-trained horse to be named the gelding’s notorious quirks earlier in his career. Australia’s champion racehorse since Lonhro (Octagonal) in 2004, but the “It is amazing to get a horse award has remained based in Sydney’s west since then. like this, he has gone from a Nature Strip’s title means that Widden Stud’s Nicconi (Bianconi) THERE ARE SOME GREAT horse that has been a genuine becomes only the second active sire to have produced an Australian HORSES AROUND IN Group 2 winner, and then in one Racehorse of the Year, along with Sun Stud’s Bel Esprit (Royal Academy), THIS COUNTRY, SOME season has won multiple Group sire of Black Caviar. GREAT TRAINERS, AND 1 races including the biggest “Nicconi has always had terrific statistics, a great strike-rate of winners SO TO HAVE WON THIS sprint races on the racing to runners, and so many lovely horses and we’ve always had plenty of time AWARD IS SOMETHING calendar,” Waller said. for him,” Widden principal Antony Thompson told ANZ Bloodstock News QUITE SPECIAL “It is a privilege to be part earlier this year. “We believed he’d get that star and he’s certainly done of his career and respect should that in Nature Strip, who is the fastest horse in the world. He’s been a great - ROD LYONS also be given to my team for feather in the cap for Nicconi and it really cements what a fantastic sire the work they have done with he is.” Continued on page 4>> “I love this colt. He’s shown me plenty and is still nowhere near his top. He’s untapped.” Follow us @anz_news | 2 | Brought to you by MONTEFILIA wins the G1 Flight Stakes Superb Spring G1 WINNER from his first-crop 3-year-olds KERMADEC Teofilo - Hy Fuji$13,750 inc GST Another win for Everest hero Yes Yes Yes | 4 | Tuesday, October 6, 2020 Another win for Everest hero Yes Yes Yes Coolmore Stud was also celebrating after freshman sire Yes Yes Yes, who was also trained by Waller during his short racing career, was named Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding, taking out a strong category that featured Group 1 winners Bivouac (Exceed And Excel), Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), Castelvecchio (Dundeel) and Russian Camelot (Camelot) as rivals. In fact, last year’s winner of the $15 million The Everest (1200m) became the first ever to take the prize without a Group 1 victory to his name, signalling once again the significance of The Everest despite its lack of black type status. “I’d like to dedicate this award to all the staff at Chris Waller’s yard, particularly Chris himself and Mick Channon Jnr too but everyone in that operation who gets up day after day, before the sun comes up,” Coolmore Australia’s Tom Magnier said. “It’s thanks to you that we are here accepting an award like this. They did an unbelievable job with this horse to get him Farnan SPORTPIX to The Everest and it was something I will never forget. “To have the first colt to win The Everest and in record time, it’s truly “He’s had a remarkable AUSTRALIAN RACEHORSE exciting and to have him at home in the breeding barn, it’s a real thrill.” year,” said Aquis Farm chief OF THE YEAR Shane McGrath, on behalf of 2019-20 NATURE STRIP 2018-19 WINX Farnan lands champion juvenile honours the ownership group that now 2017-18 WINX Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Farnan (3 c Not A Single includes Kia Ora Stud as well as 2016-17 WINX Doubt - Tallow by Street Cry) was named last season’s Champion Two- Phoenix Thoroughbreds. “This 2015-16 WINX Year-Old in what was arguably the strongest of the categories in terms of is what dreams are made of and 2014-15 DISSIDENT depth. it’s great to be able to share it 2013-14 LANKAN RUPEE Only twice in the last decade has the award not gone to the Golden with such great people. We look 2012-13 BLACK CAVIAR 2011-12 BLACK CAVIAR Slipper winner: in 2018-19 with Microphone (Exceed And Excel) and in forward to next year when he’s 2010-11 BLACK CAVIAR 2013-14 with Earthquake (Exceed And Excel). In order to secure the title, named Champion Three-Year- 2009-10 TYPHOON TRACY though, Farnan - who also won the Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), Silver Old.” 2008-09 SCENIC BLAST Slipper Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) and the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic Added co-trainer Adrian 2007-08 WEEKEND HUSSLER (RL, 1100m), along with a maiden success at Canberra - had to prevail Bott: “He’s thoroughly 2006-07 MISS ANDRETTI against a top line-up of youngsters. deserving of the title and on 2005-06 MAKYBE DIVA 2004-05 MAKYBE DIVA Among his rivals for the award were Group 1 winners Tagaloa (Lord behalf of Gai Waterhouse and 2003-04 LONHRO Kanaloa), Rothfire (Rothesay) and King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) - the myself, I can certainly say it’s 2002-03 NORTHERLY last-named the only contender to win two Group 1 races as a juvenile - been a real privilege to train the 2001-02 SUNLINE while bombproof filly Away Game (Snitzel), winner of the Magic Millions horse.” 2000-01 SUNLINE 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m), completed the line-up. Continued on page 6>> Follow us @anz_news | 4 | Brought to you by Champion 3YO Colt/Gelding at the 2020 Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards At 3: Won the $14m. The Everest in record time At 2: Won the Todman Stakes-Gr.2, also in record time! The best son of Encosta de Lago’s fastest son Rubick.