Arrowfield’s strong hand in Horse of the Year awards
Arrowfield is represented by finalists in four of the seven award categories at the 2014 Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards.
Arrowfield graduate Sweet Idea (Snitzel-Flidais by Timber Country) is a finalist for the Champion 3YO Filly Award after a three-win season featuring the ATC Light Fingers S. G2 and the GCTC Magic Millions Guineas (R) LR. She was also second in the ATC Coolmore Classic G1. Sweet Idea’s Timeform rating of 119 was the second-highest achieved by a 3YO filly in Australia last season.
Sweet Idea is trained by Gai Waterhouse for her owners Nick & Amy Vass, David & Luke Henderson, Wayne Cook, Danny Maher, Grant Scott, Campbell Brown, Beric Lynton, Mrs T.L. Vogel & Matt Allen.
Bred by the partnership of Arrowfield & Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd, she was purchased from the Arrowfield draft at the 2012 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale by Gai Waterhouse & James Harron.
Shamus Award (Snitzel-Sunset Express by Success Express) is a finalist for the 3YO Colt/Gelding Award, and the Champion Middle Distance Horse Award, thanks to his sensational Cox Plate G1 and Australian Guineas G1 victories. Shamus Award was Timeform’s top-rated 3YO of 2013/14 with a figure of 124.
Bred by Bob Hannon, Shamus Award was a $230,000 purchase from the 2012 Inglis Easter Sale, and was trained by Danny O’Brien for Sean Buckley & Viv Oldfield.
Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice-Estelle Collection by Stravinsky) is a finalist in the Champion Sprinter category. He won seven of his 8 starts last season, most notably the MRC Oakleigh Plate G1, VRC Newmarket H. G1 & ATC T.J. Smith S. G1. He is the world’s top-rated sprinter in 2014 and his Timeform rating of 132 is the highest achieved by any horse in Australia last season.
Lankan Rupee was foaled & raised at Arrowfield for his owner-breeder Muzaffar Yaseen, and is trained by Mick Price who has already received the Fred Hoysted Medal for the most outstanding training performance on Victorian tracks last season.
Dundeel (High Chaparral-Stareel by Zabeel), the new boy on Arrowfield’s 2014 stallion roster, is among the finalists for the Champion Middle Distance Horse award. He won the season’s two highest-rated races, the MRC Underwood S. G1 and the ATC Queen Elizabeth S. G1, and has already won the titles of New Zealand Horse of the Year and Champion Middle Distance Horse.
Dundeel was bred by Murray & Jo Andersen and raced by them in partnership with Mike & Sharyn Craig, David & Jenny Morison, Tony & Wendy Craig, Gavin Chaplow, Tracy Andersen, Tony Muollo & Dino Focas. He was trained by Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman.
The category award winners and the Australian Racehorse of the Year will be announced on Thursday 2 October at Melbourne Museum, at an event that will also mark the official launch of the 2014 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
Voted on by a national group of racing media and handicappers, the awards recognise performances on Australian tracks by horses, irrespective of origin, and internationally by Australian-trained horses from 1 August 2013 to 31 July 2014.
The five finalists in each category are the horses which have obtained the most votes, with the finalists for the overall Australian Racehorse of the Year to be announced on the night.
