Written by Renee Geelen
Cover image courtesy of Racing SA
Racing South Australia hosted the 2023/24 Racehorse of the Year awards night on Tuesday at a Gala Ceremony at the Wolf Blass Event Centre at Morphettville.
The winners were as follows:
Horse Of The Year & Champion Middle Distance Horse: Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai)
Winner of eight of her 32 career starts, Pride Of Jenni’s 2023/24 season included wins in the G1 Empire Rose S., G1 Cantala S., The All-Star Mile, and in the autumn, the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. Trained by Ciaron Maher, Pride Of Jenni also earned the Champion Middle Distance Horse.
Champion 2YO: Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB})
Godolphin’s Broadsiding won four of his seven starts at two in 2023/24, including the G1 Champagne S. and G1 JJ Atkins Plate.
Champion 3YO Filly: Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard)
A G1 Stradbroke winner out of a G1 Stradbroke winner, Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica bookended her 3-year-old season with wins, ending with the Stradbroke, and also picked up a placing in the G1 Surround S.
Champion 3YO Colt/Gelding: Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA})
Owner Debbi Kepitis accepted the Champion 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding award for Riff Rocket who passed away last month after a bout of colic. He was victorious in the Group 1 Victoria Derby, Rosehill Guineas and ATC Australian Derby last season.
Riff Rocket | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Champion Stayer: Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire})
Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight trained by Sam and Anthony Freedman was an obvious choice for Champion Stayer.
Champion Sprinter: Imperatriz (I Am Invincible)
Unbeaten in four group races in the spring, including the G1 AJ Moir, G1 Manikato S. and G1 VRC Sprint Classic, Imperatriz won the G1 Lightning S and G1 William Reid S. in the autumn.
Champion Jumper: Stern Idol (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA})
His stunning 14-length Mosstrooper Steeplechase win at Pakenham, along with wins in the Crisp Steeplechase and Brierly made the Ciaron Maher-trained Irish import the undisputed Champion Jumper of the season.
Champion Group 1 trainer: Chris Waller
For the 12th consecutive year Chris Waller was honoured with the title of Champion Group 1 Trainer with a phenomenal 12 Group 1 wins.
Champion Group 1 Jockey: James McDonald
James McDonald continued his dominating ways riding 14 Group 1 winners in Australia to take out the title of Champion Group 1 Jockey for a fourth-straight year.
Champion Sire: I Am Invincible
Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible won his third Australian champion sires’ title with a record-breaking tally of more than $32 million on progeny earnings during the 2023/24 season.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
