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TEN OUTSTANDING WORKERS IN THOROUGHBRED RACING HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE 2025/26 ‘SYDNEY STRAPPER OF THE YEAR’ AWARD

The final nominations for Racing NSW’s 2025/26 Sydney Strapper of the Year award have been announced. Now in its 17th year, this award endeavours to recognise the behind-the-scenes efforts by those strappers that tend to go beyond the call of duty.

The award is sponsored by Racing NSW and co-ordinated by Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy. The award is peer-nominated with strappers at Metropolitan race meetings being invited to nominate who they think deserves the award.

A selection panel of racing officials will subsequently choose the winner from the following short-list of finalists.

Christen Ercig-Wilson (Jack Pilkington stable): Horse strapped Bernen Win. “Christen moved seamlessly into a foreman role at Pilkington Racing and despite her depth of knowledge and experience through years of service to the sport in some of the top stables, Chrissie has an insatiable hunger for learning. She is always trying to improve herself both in practical stable-learning and through further studies. Chrissie leads by example every day. She is 100% committed, not only to our stable and its long-term success, but also to the industry. Workers like Chrissie are a huge asset to our industry and increasingly harder to find among the younger generation. She is patient and thorough when passing this knowledge on to less experienced employees. Chrissie is always punctual and her attention to detail and tireless work ethic contribute enormously to the culture of our stable. We have confidently handed her more responsibilities across the five months with our stable and hope this continues for a long time to come. Having worked with Chrissie in two other stables previously and known her for many years, I had no hesitation in nominating her for Strapper of the Year. Such an award would be an acknowledgment of her dedication to the racing industry over many years and undoubtedly many more to come.”

Danielle Akon (John Sargent): Nullarbor Jane, Casual Connection. “Danielle is an outstanding strapper whose dedication, professionalism and genuine passion for Thoroughbred racing make her an exceptionally deserving recipient of the Sydney Strapper of the Year Award. During her two years with John Sargent Racing, she has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of horse care, stable presentation and work ethic. The horses in her care, including Nullarbor Jane and Casual Connection, receive exceptional attention every day, reflecting Danielle's unwavering commitment to their well-being and performance. Her work ethic is second-to-none. Despite balancing two jobs, Danielle ensures the horses receive the care they deserve. No task is ever too difficult, and she approaches every responsibility with enthusiasm, determination and a positive attitude.”

Garance Lathiere (Robert Quinn): Ces Soirees La, Sunsource, Irish Jig. “I could not think of a more suitable candidate for this award than Garance. Garance’s passion and dedication for her horses and horse racing in general is unbelievable. Her attention to detail is second-to-none when it comes to caring for her horses. She has a wonderful passion for wanting to get the very best out of every horse in our stable. Garance is always looking for new ways to improve our horses’ stable life. In her time working for Robert Quinn Racing she has helped raise our standard, constantly pushed herself and those around her to continue to raise the bar in our efforts to be a proud, competitive, respected Sydney stable. If I had to sum up Garance Lathiere’s time spent so far in the sport of horse racing, I would simply say “passionate.”

Jacob Anderson (Joe Pride): Private Eye, Accredited. “Jacob joined our stable with no previous experience around horses, but through his dedication, work ethic, and genuine willingness to learn, he has developed into an outstanding strapper and an invaluable member of our team. Jacob is consistently the first person at the stables each morning, ensuring the first group of horses are on the walker and prepared for the day ahead. He approaches every task with enthusiasm and takes great pride in the care and well-being of our horses. He has earned our complete trust and has travelled interstate with our horses during carnival campaigns to Melbourne and Brisbane, where he has represented our stable professionally and cared for the horses to the highest standard. Although Jacob is naturally quiet and humble, his actions speak for themselves. He always presents himself professionally, has a positive attitude, and is eager to continue learning and improving. He is highly respected by his colleagues and contributes positively to our team culture. Jacob’s commitment, reliability and genuine passion for the horses makes him an exceptionally deserving finalist.”

Jane Shaw (Karin Owen): Fay’s Angel. “Jane has exceptional depth of character. She is very dedicated and straps voluntarily, usually every time I bring my metro runner Fay’s Angels to town (she does have a family connection to the horse). Jane travels from Coff’s Harbour, meets me at Taree, and helps prepare the horse and share the driving. She is very organised and even prepares a packed lunch for me! Jane is a very experienced horsewoman and excellent at handling difficult horses (Fay’s Angels can be quite problematic). Jane liaises well with other industry participants and can be called upon to oversee any horse to prepare, float and saddle it on raceday if required. She is very reliable and also straps many of my runners on the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers area.”

Kathleen Watts (Mick Price/Michael Kent Jnr stable): Golden Path, La Fracas, Skycatcher, Bustling. “Rain, hail or shine, Kat Watts is the first stablehand in the barn and the last to leave. No stone is left unturned; whether it’s with the horses or keeping the barn clean and tidy. She has a horse-first mentality whether its within working hours or doing the extra yards. Kat travels with horses to the races and makes sure everything is done perfectly. She prides herself on the work she does and the way she presents herself and the horses she takes racing. Regardless of the result, Kat is happiest when the horses come back safely. She doesn’t have the strongest win/loss record but her attitude towards her job never changes.”

Malak Singh (Chris Waller): Campione D’italia, Soul Of Spain, Beiwacht. “Few people embody the values of horsemanship, dedication and teamwork quite like Malak. He has been an integral part of the stable’s success, earning the respect of everyone around him through his unwavering work ethic, loyalty and genuine care for both horses and people. Throughout his career he has overseen the daily preparation and care of some of Australia’s finest horses and as a foreman, he leads by example, mentoring a team of staff that not only respect him immensely, but genuinely enjoy working alongside him. He creates a positive, supportive environment where everyone feels valued, and he is always willing to lend a hand, share his knowledge or simply brighten someone’s day with his sense of humour. Malak goes above and beyond to ensure every horse in his care receives the attention, patience and love they deserve. His dedication doesn’t end with the horses – he shows the same compassion and generosity towards his workmates, always putting others before himself. Reliable, loyal, selfless and incredibly hardworking, Malak is the type of person every stable hopes to have. He is a beautiful man with a kind heart, a trusted leader, and someone who consistently gives far more than is asked of him.”

Megan Booker (Angela Davies): Through the Cracks, Our Kobison. “Megan embodies everything that is exceptional about the Thoroughbred racing industry. Her dedication, professionalism, horsemanship and genuine love for horses set her apart and make her an invaluable member of our stable. Every day Meg demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the welfare and success of our horses. Whether she is strapping at the races, riding trackwork in the early hours of the morning, or caring for horses back at the stable, her attention to detail is unparalleled. What makes Meg truly special is that her commitment to the horses does not end when their racing careers are over. Many people focus on a horse’s racing success, but Meg is equally passionate about ensuring every horse has the best possible future after racing. She dedicates countless hours to retraining retired racehorses through dressage and other educational work, patiently teaching them new skills and preparing them for life beyond the racetrack. Through her efforts, numerous horses have been successfully rehomed into loving, suitable homes where they can thrive in their second careers. In addition to her horsemanship, Meg is highly respected by her colleagues and peers. Sydney racing is stronger because of people like Meg.”

Michael Harry (Peter Snowden): Nitro, Amreekiyah, Dolce Dior. “Over the past year, Michael has shown outstanding dedication and commitment to the stable. He has developed tremendously, taking every opportunity to learn and continually improving his skills and horsemanship. He has travelled with our horses on multiple occasions, always representing the stable professionally and proving himself to be reliable in any situation. He is consistently the first person to put his hand up to cover shifts, help his teammates out and take on extra responsibilities without hesitation. Michael’s work ethic, positive attitude and willingness to go above and beyond make him an invaluable member of our team. He genuinely cares about the horses and takes great pride in his work every day. Michael is thoroughly deserving of being recognised as a finalist for this season's Strapper of the Year award.”

Stephanie Alexander (Brett & Georgie Cavanough): Chidiac, Wanaruah, Fingers Hunter, Warrior For Peace, Navy Steel, Shenandoah River. “Stephanie has been an integral part of every stage of Cavanough Racing’s success. An elite horsewoman with exceptional horse handling, horse breaking and riding skills, she has proved an irreplaceable member of our team. Stephanie is a devoted and tirelessly hard worker who has a work ethic second-to-none. She is a fantastic leader and very capable individual who leads a successful team. Presentation of herself and the horses is always of the highest standard and, after 13 years, she is one of the most valued members of our team.”

HONOUR ROLL