Anamoe crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year
Godolphin’s multiple Group 1 winner Anamoe (Street Boss) was crowned 2022/23 Australian Racehorse of the Year at a ceremony held in Perth last night by Racing and Wagering Western Australia in association with Racing Australia.
In winning the coveted award, the nine-time Group 1 scorer joins previous beneficiaries of the prize, including last year’s champion Nature Strip (Nicconi), Winx (Street Cry), Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and Makybe Diva (Desert King), to name a few.
Trained throughout his career by James Cummings, Anamoe, who was also named Champion Middle Distance horse last night, retired at the end of last season as the winner of 14 of his 25 starts, which saw him accrue $11,127,025 in career prize–money earnings.
Last year’s Everest (1200m) hero and dual Group 1 winner Giga Kick (Scissor Kick), who was unable to defend his crown in the $20 million sprint this season due to injury, was awarded Australia’s Champion Sprinter and the country’s Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding.
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly was named as Anamoe’s stablemate In Secret (I Am Invincible), following her wonderful 2022/23 season, in which she won four Group races, headed by her victories in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m).
Coolmore’s Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) hero Shinzo (Snitzel) took home the Champion Two-Year-Old award, while Australian Bloodstock’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Gold Trip (Outstrip) landed the Champion Stayer prize, after he provided his trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace their first win in the Flemington showpiece last year.
The powerhouse training duo were among the winners elsewhere last night, with their inmate Stern Idol (Raven’s Pass) taking home Champion Jumper award.
After securing his second consecutive Australian Champion Sires’ title last season, I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) was named the Australian Champion Sire.
The 2022/23 Champion Group 1 Jockey award went to James McDonald, while Sydney’s champion trainer, Chris Waller, won the Champion Group 1 Trainer Bart Cummings Award.
Also honoured last night was four-time Golden Slipper Stakes-winning trainer Clarry Conners, leviathan owner Bob Peters and jockey Frank Teen Snr, who were all inducted into the Hall Of Fame, while in the thoroughbred category, the racing feats of champion horses Baguette (Rego), Emancipation (Bletchingly) and Miss Andretti (Ihtiram) were also recognised at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Gai Waterhouse AO made history as she joined her late father, the great Tommy Smith in receiving the highest possible accolade, being elevated to Legend Status at the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Also awarded last night was the newly introduced “Australian Spirit of Racing” award, which was bestowed upon WA’s Rod Kemp for his dedication to racing as both jockey and mentor with a riding legacy of 11 Group 1s and multiple majors to his name.