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Champion trainer Chris Waller has been presented with his 14th Bart Cummings Medal during tonight’s Racing’s Night of Champions Awards at Royal Randwick.

Waller accumulated 105 points in the prestigious award’s point score holding out premier jockey James McDonald (71pts) and trainer Bjorn Baker (64pts).

The trainer also took home the TJ Smith Award for claiming the Sydney Trainers’ Premiership for the 15th successive occasion.

“Chris Waller’s achievements are nothing short of extraordinary. He continues to raise the bar for excellence in our sport, setting records that will inspire future generations of trainers and racing enthusiasts alike,” said Mr Peter V’landys AM, Racing NSW’s Chief Executive.

“The unwavering dedication of Chris and his remarkable team shines a spotlight on the very best of Australian racing. Winning both the Bart Cummings Medal and the TJ Smith Award is a testament to their world-class standards, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations.”

The Bart Cummings Medal point score – honouring the legendary trainer who passed away a decade ago – is comprised of votes from seven leading Sydney racing journalists. Other award winners on the night were:

Champion trainer Chris Waller with the Bart Cummings Medal

Chris Waller won his 15th successive T.J. Smith Award for winning the Sydney Trainers’ Premiership with 142 wins for the season, finishing in advance of Bjorn Baker who had a stellar season with 90 winners and Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott (68).

James McDonald snared his ninth George Moore Award (seventh straight) for landing the Sydney Jockeys’ Premiership with 83 wins for the season, edging out Jason Collett (74 wins). McDonald had previously won the 2013/14 (72 wins), 2015/16 (89½), 2018/19 (104), 2019/20 (103.5), 2020/21 (131), 2021/22 (105), 2022/23 (96) and 2023/24 (90) titles.

Braith Nock scored his first Theo Green Award for leading Sydney apprentice with 40 wins for the season defeating runner-up Molly Bourke (24 winners) and Anna Roper (23½ wins).

The remaining Racing NSW award winners were: -

Bjorn Baker (Caryl Williamson NSW Racing Writers’ Personality of the Year): Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas said: “This trainer is a great advertisement for Sydney racing. His passion and enthusiasm for the sport is infectious. Bjorn gets as much joy out of winning a midweek maiden as he does when he lands a Group 1 success. He is widely respected among the racing media for his availability for interviews with print, radio and television media, and his willingness to assist in presenting his runners and Sydney racing in a positive light. Bjorn is a deserved winner of this year’s Caryl Williamson Racing Media Personality of the Year Award.”

Leonard Todd (Sydney Strapper of the Year – Ciaron Maher stable): The stable commented: “Lenny loved I Am Me and long after the rest of the stable had clocked off, you’d find Lenny giving her an extra massage or carefully grooming her. But he’s much more than a one-horse man. Reliable and trustworthy, Lenny’s often sent on “one-man” missions, taking care of the driving, and strapping and saddling when we have sole runners around NSW. He’s the man we turn to and takes pride in every CMR-trained horse and is the definition of a brilliant team player. No job is too big or too small and we’re incredibly lucky to have had him in the stable for so many years.”

King’s Secret (BOBS Horses of the Year): The Shalaa (Ire) gelding accumulated $73,125 in BOBS bonuses courtesy of four victories during the season at Rosehill Gardens (twice), Royal Randwick and Gosford. The Joe Pride-trained King’s Secret finished well clear of eight horses on $45,000 including boom filly (now mare) Autumn Glow.

NSW Racehorse Owners award winners were: -

Marhoona (Buildgroup Services Australia NSW Champion Two-Year-Old)
Lady Shenandoah (Inglis NSW Champion Three-Year-Old)
Bella Nipotina (Australian Turf Club NSW Champion Sprinter)
Ceolwulf (Wild Oaks NSW Champion Miler)
Via Sistina (Woppitt Bloodstock NSW Champion Middle Distance Horse)
Arapaho (IKON Services Australia NSW Champion Stayer)
Lady Shenandoah (Baumgartners & Morgan+English NSW Queen of the Autumn)
Front Page (Sky Thoroughbred Central NSW Country Champion Horse)
Private Harry (Sky Thoroughbred Central NSW Provincial Champion Horse)
Via Sistina (TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year)
Debbie Kepitis (NSWROA Industry Recognition Award)

Final standings for the 2024/25 Bart Cummings Medal: -

105 - Chris WALLER
71 - James McDONALD
64 - Bjorn BAKER
58 - Jason COLLETT
51 - Zac LLOYD
39 - Joe PRIDE
38 - Nash RAWILLER, Gai WATERHOUSE/Adrian BOTT
36 - Tim CLARK, Tyler SCHILLER
33 - Tommy BERRY
32 - Kerrin McEVOY
29 - Adam HYERONIMUS
28 - Braith NOCK
26 - Ciaron MAHER
20 - Alysha COLLETT
18 - Chad SCHOFIELD
17 - Michael FREEDMAN, Josh PARR, Peter SNOWDEN