Vega One takes out Queensland Horse of the Year award

[Wandering Eyes]

Vega One and trainer Tony Gollan both saluted at the Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.

The Queensland Thoroughbred Awards for the 2020/21 racing season were staged on Sunday night, with Tony Gollan claiming his eighth straight Trainer of the Year title while one of his stable stars, Vega One, took out the Horse of the Year gong.

Some 25 awards were handed out at Queensland racing’s night of nights, as well as five inductees into the Racing Queensland Hall of Fame.

Premiership winner Gollan once again rose to the top to win the Queensland Trainer of the Year thanks to 166 wins across the state, with 103 of those being at metropolitan level.

Gollan also trained Vega One to win the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup, which saw the now six-year-old gelding take out Queensland Horse of the Year and Queensland 4YO and Older Horse of the Year.

Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said that Vega One was a deserving winner of Queensland’s Horse of the Year given his consistency throughout the season.

“Vega One has shown time and time again that he is one of Queensland’s most consistent gallopers, and this award is thoroughly deserving following his stirring victory in the Group 1 TAB Kingsford-Smith Cup,” he said.

“The horse’s trainer, Tony Gollan, has continued to dominate the training ranks, surpassing a number of his own records set last year, including a new benchmark for state wins and an unprecedented second straight season of 100 metropolitan triumphs.

“Queensland has unearthed some genuine stars of Australian racing in the last 12 months, with Krone winning a Group 1 race in Sydney, and rising stars Isotope and Rothfire set to represent the Sunshine State with pride over the coming season.

“I congratulate all award winners on the evening and look forward to another stellar season of thoroughbred racing in Queensland.”

Ryan Maloney was awarded Queensland Jockey of the Year after dominating with 77 metropolitan winners and 119 statewide.

Justin Huxtable was crowned Apprentice of the Year after notching 38.5 metropolitan wins, including a Listed win in the Carter Stakes with Rhapsody Rose.

Ryan Wiggins won the Provincial Jockeys’ Premiership and Kyle Wilson-Taylor won the Provincial Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership, while Brad won the Provincial Horse of the Year on the back of his eight wins on the North Queensland circuit.

There were also five new inductees to the Racing Queensland Hall of Fame, including the Ballard family from Mount Isa.

2021 Queensland Thoroughbred Award winners

Queensland Thoroughbred Horse of the Year
Vega One (Tony Gollan)

Queensland Trainer of the Year
Tony Gollan

Queensland Jockey of the Year
Ryan Maloney

Ken Russell Queensland Apprentice of the Year
Justin Huxtable

Metropolitan Premiership Trainer
Tony Gollan

Metropolitan Premiership Jockey
Ryan Maloney

Metropolitan Apprentice of the Year
Justin Huxtable

Provincial Apprentice of the Year
Kyle Wilson-Taylor

Country Apprentice of the Year
Alisha Ross

Racing Queensland Student of the Year
Jasmine Cornish and Tahlia Fenlon (tie)

QRIC Stewards Award
James Orman

QTIS Horse of the Year
Eloquently (Steve Tregea)

Queensland 2YO Horse of the Year
Alpine Edge (Toby and Trent Edmonds)

Queensland 3YO Horse of the Year
Rothfire (Robert Heathcote)

Queensland 4YO and Older Horse of the Year
Vega One (Tony Gollan)

Provincial Premiership Horse of the Year
Brad (Tim Cook)

Provincial Premiership Trainer
Stuart Kendrick

Provincial Premiership Jockey
Ryan Wiggins

Country Premiership Horse of the Year
Sizzalating (Todd Austin)

Country Premiership Trainer
Tanya Parry

Country Premiership Jockey
Alisha Ross

Queensland Stallion of the Year
Spirit Of Boom

Champion First Season Stallion
Worthy Cause

Champion 2YO Stallion
Better Than Ready

Broodmare of the Year
Gaudeamus

2021 Racing Queensland Hall of Fame inductees

• Carioca
• Colin O’Neill
• Eric Kirwan
• Athol, Darryll and Neil Strong
• Dan, Keith and Denise Ballard

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