Turf stars line up for Vic horse of the year

WINX’S successor as Victorian racehorse of the year will be drawn from an elite pool headed by Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux and Melbourne Cup hero Vow And Declare.

Last spring’s premier stayers will be challenged by Australian Guineas winner Alligator Blood and multiple Group 1 sprint winners Loving Gaby and Nature Strip, Australia’s fastest horse.

The five finalists, judged on performances on Victorian tracks across the 2019-20 season, received the most votes from a 50-strong voting panel, comprised of racing media, Racing Victoria’s handicapping panel and the chairman of stewards.

Loving Gaby (Manikato Stakes and William Reid Stakes) snared two Group 1s during the voting period as well as placing in three others.

Nature Strip (Moir Stakes and Darley Spring Classic) also claimed two Group 1s.

Alligator Blood (Australian Guineas) prevailed once at Group 1 level and twice at Group 3 (CS Hayes Stakes and Caulfield Guineas Prelude) before finishing second in the Caulfield Guineas.

Lys Gracieux started only once on Victorian soil, notching an emphatic Cox Plate triumph before returning to Japan to stamp herself among the world’s best.

Vow And Declare provided Danny O’Brien and Craig Williams with their first wins in Australia’s most famous staying handicap after running second in the Caulfield Cup. He returned in the autumn to run third in the Group 1 Australian Cup.

RV will reveal the winner on Wednesday night, along with 12 other awards, highlighted by the Scobie Breasley Medal, the Tommy Corrigan Medal and the Fred Hoysted Medal.

Williams is among 10 jockeys in contention for the Breasley Medal which recognises excellence in riding during the metropolitan flat racing season. The other riders are Dwayne Dunn, Jamie Kah, Damian Lane, Jye McNeil, Ben Melham, Jamie Mott, Damien Oliver, Michael Poy and Daniel Stackhouse.

The award ceremony will be done virtually with host broadcaster Racing.com interviewing winners from their homes.