Wells caps big season
Third Grand National, racehorse of the year
CHAMPION jumper Wells capped off a stunning winter by claiming Geelong’s racehorse of the year award.
The tough Kath Durden-trained 10year-old was given the gong at the Thoroughbred Club of Geelong’s awards dinner last night.
It was reward for a brilliant season, which saw him etch his name as one of Australia’s greatest ever jumpers by winning his third Grand National Steeplechase.
Wells defended his Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) crown at Ballarat in August, lugging 71.5kg in the process.
The victory equalled Bashboy’s three Grand National wins and took Wells’ prize money above $1 million.
Wells also claimed the Mosstrooper and the Crisp Steeple this preparation.
He collected a maximum 21 votes from the seven-person voting committee made up of industry experts.
It is Durden’s first racehorse of the year award.
Michael Roebuck’s Bel Burgess polled eight votes to finish second.
However, Roebuck was honoured with the Meggs Elkington Order of Merit for his training performance with Bel Burgess.
The progressive galloper won five races last racing season, including four in a row at Echuca, Ballarat, Sandown and Moonee Valley. The club also honoured racing identity Rob Gaylard with the George Hanlon Medal.
Carrying the name of the former champion Geelong trainer, the award is given for service to the racing industry.
And Gaylard has given plenty, starting as a racing host in the 1980s.
He has been the voice of Flemington for 15 years, Melbourne Cup mounting yard host more than 15 years and is the host and MC for many major country cups around the state.
Gaylard was also the vice chairman of the Thoroughbred Club of Geelong between 2000 and 2015.
Freshwater Creek trainer Jamie Edwards held off a fast-finishing Glenn Thornton to win Geelong’s leading trainer award.
It is back-to-back wins for Edwards, who claimed the title for the 11th time.
Edwards trained 15 winners from 177 starts, while Thornton trained 14 winners from 142 starters.
Retired trainer Niall Phillips came third with 11 winners for the racing season.
In the night’s other big gong, Chris Calthorpe claimed the inaugural Briseis Award.
Calthorpe was honoured for his training effort with Saturday Sorcerer, who won the Dunkeld Cup shortly after the horse’s previous trainer Andrew Dillon passed away.
Dillon’s target with the horse was to win the Dunkeld Cup and Saturday Sorcerer led all the way for an emotional win.
The training partnership of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig claimed the champion trainer at Geelong race meetings.
The trio had 29 winners for the season, well clear of Darren Weir (16).
David Hayes has always spoken fondly of Geelong as a racetrack and he has been known to send some of his most impressive youngsters to the region for their first start.
It is the seventh time Hayes has claimed the title.