A number of breeders were recognised at the Annual Western Australian Standardbred Breeders Association Awards Dinner held at Gloucester Park last Friday.
(WASBA President Jeanine Diederich and Vice President Howard King holding the Rogaska crystal trophy for Breeder of the Year, won by Ross Torre’s Royalstar Pty Ltd).
Adding further kudos to the record of top WA breeder Steve Johnson, Western Australian bred pacer Bettor Reward was named WA Bred Horse of the Year. Bred by Steve, Bettor Reward demonstrated his quality with a brilliant win by 10 metres in the Group 2 $50,000 4yo Championship against a star studded field that included 2016 RWWA Horse of the Year Beaudiene Boaz and Breeders Crown champion Menin Gate. The win included a 26.9s third quarter and a mile rate of 1:56.6 over the 2536m journey.
Bettor Reward, who is by Bettors Delight USA from the Northern Luck CA mare Chemical Romance, follows on from last year’s winner in retired champion Western Australian pacer David Hercules, also bred by Steve.
Bettor Reward started his career as a 3yo, winning his first 6 starts including the Group 1 $100,000 Westbred Classic for 3yo colts and geldings.
Somebeachsomewhere USA filly Red Hot Roxy topped another good night for her breeder Steve Johnson when she was named WA bred 2yo Filly of the Year, in a year that produced some exciting performances from WA bred 2 and 3yos.
Johnson also accepted a Royal Doulton crystal trophy for being named the winner of the Breeding For Excellence Award on the back of top performances in feature events and a total of 14 winners and season stakes of $336,784 from progeny he bred. Breeding For Excellence – Special Mention Awards went to John and Sue Awcock (9 starters and 7 winners for $169,110) and Kevin and Annette Charles (18 starters, 11 winners and $241,072) for their efforts.
Pacing WA syndicate manager Ross Waddell and trainer Peter Anderson accepted the Royal Doulton crystal trophy on behalf of breeder John McIntosh for the hard fought WA bred 2yo Colt/Gelding of the Year Award, with American Ideal gelding The Real Ideal taking the title ahead of Allmightlyjoelouis and Wesley. The Real Ideal won the Group 1 $100,000 Westbred Classic for 2yo colts and geldings and was second in the Group 1 $100,000 Sales Classic, for a season total of $89,220.
Bill Hayes of Highlight Lodge accepted a Royal Doulton trophy for Westbred 3yo Colt/Gelding of the Year, courtesy of the Rich And Spoilt gelding New World Order. During the season New World Order won a total of $84,315 including the Group 1 3yo colts and geldings Westbred Classic.
Leading trainer Greg Bond won 3yo Filly of the Year as breeder of Dodolicious (Bettors Delight – Slick Chic). Dodolicious is arguably one of the best pacing fillies in Australia and added to her 2yo award last year with her winning performances in the Group 1 WA Oaks, Group 1 3yo Fillies Westbred Classic and Group 2 Daintys Daughter Classic on the way to a season tally of 8 wins and $276,170.
Greg and Skye Bond were also on hand to accept the trophy for Western Australian Broodmare of the Year Slick Chic, the dam of Dodolicious and the dam of 8 winners from 8 foals of racing age.
The Western Australian Mare of the Year honour went to Bettors Delight mare Delightful Jade and her breeder Melissa Howie.
The Leading WA Based 2yo Sire of the Season was Rich And Spoilt for Harry Capararo, with Rich And Spoilt also taking out the 3yo WA Based Sire of the Season. Ross Torre took out All-age WA Based Sire of the Year with Northern Luck CA who continues to provide winners for the owners of his WA progeny. For stallions based outside WA, Somebeachsomewhere USA (Empire Stallions) won the 2yo Sire of the Year, with Bettors Delight USA (Woodlands Stud) winning the 3yo title along with the All-age title.
The prestigious WA Breeder of the Year Award, a stunning Rogaska crystal trophy was won by Royalstar Pty Ltd Manager Ross Torre, who bred the winners of $620,914. Also presented on the night were the WASBA Breeder of the Month Awards for last season.
WASBA would like to thank the many sponsors on the night including major sponsors TABTouch, Gloucester Park Harness Racing and Pacing WA.
