By Mark Brassel
Premier trainer Chris Waller was tonight the recipient of the prestigious 2011-12 Racing NSW Bart Cummings Medal – his second successive win.
The Medal winner was announced during NSW Racehorse Owners Association’s glittering ‘Racing’s Night of Champions’ event held in the Grand Pavilion at Rosehill Gardens which were televised live to the world on Sky Racing World.
During the season leading Sydney racing journalists compiled their votes on the Bart Cummings Medal and Waller came on top with 67 points in a close tussle from Hugh Bowman on 65. Bowman took out the initial Medal in 2008-09.
Waller also collected the TJ Smith Award for Sydney’s leading trainer preparing 124.5 winners for the season.
“Chris Waller is now firmly entrenched as one of Australia’s best trainers,” said Peter V’landys, Racing NSW Chief Executive.
“Sydney is home to such fabulous trainers such as Gai Waterhouse, Peter Snowden, John O’Shea, Anthony Cummings and Guy Walter – just to name a few – and for Chris to win two consecutive Bart Cummings Medals and Sydney premierships shows what a talent he is.
“The work ethic and dedication of Chris Waller are without reproach and he modestly diverts the accolades to his staff.”
Hugh Bowman (93.5 wins) captured the George Moore Award for winning the Sydney Jockeys’ Premiership whilst Chad Schofield took out the Theo Green Award for leading Sydney apprentice with 39 wins for the season.
Skye Smalley, from the Guy Walter stable, was the third winner of the Sydney Strapper of the Year Award.
Streama was named the Luxbet.com NSW Champion Horse of the Year at the function which was in aid of the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation. The other award winners on the night were:-
LUXBET.COM NSW CHAMPION HORSE OF THE YEAR - Streama
NSW 2YO OF THE YEAR - Pierro
NSW 3YO - Streama
NSW SPRINTER/MILER OF THE YEAR - More Joyous (NZ)
NSW MIDDLE-DISTANCE HORSE OF THE YEAR – Manighar (Fr)
NSW STAYER OF THE YEAR - Niwot
QUEEN OF THE AUTUMN - Streama
NSW COUNTRY CHAMPION HORSE OF THE YEAR - Ortensia
NSW PROVINCIAL CHAMPION HORSE OF THE YEAR - Hay List
Australian Idol, Damien Leith, was the feature artist for the evening and entertained the large crowd.
NSWROA president, Ray McDowell said: “On behalf of Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation and NSWROA, I would like to thank everyone for attending this incredible event which showcases the very best of the NSW thoroughbred industry. My thanks also to our sponsors – we greatly appreciate your support.”
Final standings for the Bart Cummings Medal:-
67 - Chris WALLER
65 - Hugh BOWMAN
55 - Gai WATERHOUSE
45 - Jim CASSIDY
37 - Nash RAWILLER
32 - Glyn SCHOFIELD
31 - Tommy BERRY
30 - Kerrin McEVOY
23 - Guy WALTER
22 - John O’SHEA
22 - Christian REITH
21 - Corey BROWN
20 - Sam CLIPPERTON
19 - Adam HYERONIMUS
17 - Peter SNOWDEN
16 - Brenton AVDULLA
16 - Anthony CUMMINGS
16 - Kathy O’HARA
16 - Chad SCHOFIELD
Click on the following links to view the Racing NSW Honour Rolls:-
Bart Cummings Medal
Sydney Strapper of the Year
Sydney Jockey, Trainer & Apprentices (back to 1935-36)