For the ninth year in a row, champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller won the Bart Cummings Medal during NSW Racing’s Night of Champions awards evening at Randwick on Thursday.
Named in honour of the legendary trainer who died in 2015, the Bart Cummings Medal is voted on by Sydney racing journalists and celebrates the season’s outstanding performer among training and riding ranks at New South Wales metropolitan race meetings.
Waller earned an overall score of 133 points, finishing well clear of the runner-up, fellow expat New Zealander James McDonald (67). Bart Cummings’ grandson James finished third with 59 points.
Renowned around the racing world for his feats with legendary mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), Waller also claimed the TJ Smith Award for Sydney’s leading trainer, finishing the 2018-19 season with 172 winners and a ninth consecutive metropolitan premiership.
Waller claimed the TJ Smith Award for Sydney’s leading trainer
“Chris Waller has marvelled the world through his extraordinary feat, over a number of years, keeping Winx – the world’s best racehorse – at the top of her game,” said Mr Peter V’landys AM, Racing NSW’s Chief Executive.
“But Chris and his team also train and care for hundreds of other horses on a daily basis and they must be congratulated for their professionalism and extreme dedication to our sport.”
"Chris and his team also train and care for hundreds of other horses on a daily basis and they must be congratulated for their professionalism and extreme dedication to our sport.” - Peter V'landys
Winx brought the curtain down on her extraordinary career with a G1 Queen Elizabeth S. swansong at Randwick in April. She finished with 37 wins from 43 starts, the last 33 in succession including 25 at Group 1 level and more than $26 million in prize-money.
The champion mare claimed three awards – TAB.com.au NSW Champion Horse of the Year, Wild Oaks NSW Miler of the Year and NZ Bloodstock Middle-Distance Horse of the Year.
Winx claimed three awards including the NSW Champion Horse of the Year
But Waller’s other Group 1 successes in Sydney last season included three with The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice), two with Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), and one each with Patrick Erin (NZ) (Gallant Guru), Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Shraaoh (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
The Autumn Sun’s Golden Rose, Randwick Guineas and Rosehill Guineas heroics earned him the Inglis NSW 3-Year-Old of the Year award, while Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh was Coolmore Australia NSW Stayer of the Year.
James Cummings’ Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi (Sidestep) was the ATC NSW 2-Year-Old of the Year. Gwenda Markwell’s Angel Of Truth (Animal Kingdom {USA}), who won the Australian Derby, was named the Sky Thoroughbred Central NSW Provincial Horse of the Year.
The Cummings-trained Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}), who has placed in five Group 1 sprints this year along with the Everest last spring, was the ATC NSW Sprinter of the Year.
Eckstein (I Am Invincible) was the Sky Thoroughbred Central NSW Country Horse of the Year, and Dixie Blossoms (Street Sense {USA}) the City Tattersalls Club Queen of the Autumn.
Meanwhile, McDonald won his third George Moore Award for winning the Sydney jockeys’ premiership. With 104 wins during 2018-19, he finished 27 ahead of Tommy Berry. McDonald’s previous premiership titles had come in 2013-14 (72 wins) and 2015-16 (89.5 wins).
Robbie Dolan won the Theo Green Award for leading Sydney apprentice. He rode 48 winners for the season, while Sam Weatherley was runner-up with 27 and has now returned to New Zealand.
In other awards on Thursday night, the immensely popular long-time ATC employee Nini Vascotto was the NSW Racing Writers’ Personality of the Year. She is battling Stage IV breast cancer.
“Nini is a wonderful ambassador for Sydney racing, both in her role with the Australian Turf Club and her prolific social media presence, where she promotes the sport to a wider audience,” the Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas said.
“She presents racing in a positive light despite having to deal with her own quite significant health issues. Nini is an extraordinarily brave woman and an inspiration to many.”
“Nini is a wonderful ambassador for Sydney racing, both in her role with the Australian Turf Club and her prolific social media presence, where she promotes the sport to a wider audience.” - Ray Thomas
Alexandra Maher, from the John O’Shea stable, was named Sydney Strapper of the Year.
“Alex is held in high regard by her peers and senior staff,” O’Shea said. “She goes above and beyond her duties to ensure the stable runs smoothly and efficiently. This means starting before anyone else at 3:30am and being the last to leave after every shift. Alex is an integral part of the team and is first point of contact to coordinate vets, physios, truck drivers, feed deliveries, drive our own truck on raceday as well as saddling up duties and staff rostering. Alex is the foundation of the stable and a real favourite.”
River Bird (Epaulette) was the BOBS Horse of the Year. The Jason Coyle-trained mare won three successive races at Rosehill Gardens during June and July. Owned by cane farmer George Rapisada, River Bird accumulated $73,125 in BOBS bonuses, beating So You Win (So You Think {NZ}) and Kapajack (Lonhro), who both earned $67,500.
