Star pacer Avonnova claimed his second Horse of the Year title at the Queensland Harness Awards held at the Kedron-Wavell Services Club last night.
The veteran free legged son of Art Major was voted number one horse for the 2014-15 season, winning 9 of his 15 starts including the G1 Garrards Sunshine Sprint at Albion Park during the Queensland Winter Carnival. Avonnova also tasted interstate glory when he triumphed over southern stars earlier this year winning the G2 Newcastle Mile at Newcastle and the Group 3 Les Chant and Kevin Robinson Cups at Menangle.
Trainer Ian Gurney rated the Newcastle Mile as Avonnova’s best 2014-15 win.
“It was certainly the most satisfying, he had to travel down to Newcastle and beat the best around, it’s always hard when you go away, they don’t make it easy for you,” Gurney said. “The Sunshine Sprint was his first Group 1 so that was special too, but I always think its easier to win at home.”
Avonnova, who also claimed the seasons 4yo and Older Horse of the Year Award, will target the G1 $100,000 Hurrikane Kingcole Gold Coast Cup and G1 $200,000 Garrards Queensland Pacing Championship at Albion Park at the Club’s next two Saturday night race meetings.
“He was beaten on Saturday night (in the Be Good Johnny Sprint) but I was not disappointed at all,” Gurney said. “He’ll race real good over the next couple of weeks, he such a lovely horse.”
Gurney will stage a three-pronged attacck on the Queensland features after quinellaing last Saturday night’s G2 Be Good Johnny Sprint with Our Hi Jinx and Mach Alert. The trio are all bound for Perth for the Inter Dominion Pacing Championships.
For the second year running, Goldstar Invasion was also crowned the QSTA Queensland Trotter of the Year.
In the 2YO category it was the Christina Monte owned Catcha Lefty who finished on top and Bettor Promiseearned the judges’ nod in the 3yo Horse of the Year category after a stellar season.
Queensland obtained another double as both Grant Dixon and Shane Graham were named National and State Premiership winning trainer and driver respectively.
Narissa McMullen and Hayden Barnes had reason to celebrate as the recipients of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Toowong Young Achievers of the Year award.
Full list of winners on the night included:
Award Category Winner
MHRC – Trainers Premiership GLENN DAWSON
MHRC – Drivers Premiership NATHAN DAWSON
MHRC Horse of the year CHICKEN ON A CHAIN
RHRC Owner of the year SOLID EARTH PTY LTD
RHRC – Trainers Premiership GRANT DIXON
RHRC – Drivers Premiership SHANE GRAHAM
RHRC Mare of the year NURSE FEELGOOD
RHRC – Horse of the year IM BORN TO RULE NZ
APHRC Owner of the year SOLID EARTH PTY LTD
Award Category Winner
APHRC – Trainers Premiership GRANT DIXON
APHRC – Drivers Premiership SHANE GRAHAM
APHRC Mare of the year MILLWOOD LIBERTY NZ
APHRC – Horse of the year MAJESTIC MAJOR NZ
QLD Trotter of the year GOLDSTAR INVASION
UBET BOTRA Rising Star M&F
Male: NATHAN DAWSON
Female: ISOBEL ROSS
UBET BOTRA QLD Centurions medal
TRAINERS – GRANT DIXON, VICKI RASMUSSEN,
DARREL GRAHAM, CHANTAL TURPIN
DRIVERS – SHANE GRAHAM, GRANT DIXON,
PETE MCMULLEN, GARY WHITAKER, NARISSA
MCMULLEN
HRA National Awards GRANT DIXON (TRAINER)
SHANE GRAHAM (DRIVER)
QLD Trainers Premiership GRANT DIXON
QLD Drivers Premiership SHANE GRAHAM
QLD Concession Driver NARISSA MCMULLEN
2015 Mercedes-Benz Toowong QLD Young Achievers of the Year
MALE: HAYDEN BARNES
FEMALE: NARISSA MCMULLEN
QLD 2YO Horse of the Year CATCHA LEFTY
QLD 3YO Horse of the Year BETTOR PROMISE
QLD 4YO & Older Horse of the Year AVONNOVA
QLD Horse of the Year AVONNOVA
For further information please contact David Aldred, RQ Harness Racing Operations Manager 0421 243 314.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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