Top horse gong goes to Newhart

ONE of Tasmania’s most exciting gallopers, Newhart, has been named Tasmanian Horse of the Year for the 2020-21 season.

The gelding had only six starts in his campaign, registering four wins and two seconds, with two of his wins coming in the state’s most prestigious weight-for-age events.

Newhart won an open handicap first-up over 1400m, and after seconds in the two main lead-up races, captured his second Devonport Cup.

He ended his season with wins in the weight-for-age Thomas Lyons and Tasmanian Stakes to clinch the title from Still a Star and Mystic Journey.

Newhart was trained during the season by Spreyton-based mentor Leanne Gaffney, who described the gelding as the kindest and most talented horse she has ever trained.

The Glenn Stevensontrained Turk Warrior was the standout two-year-old last season. He was unbeaten from six starts, with his victories including the Gold Sovereign Stakes and the Elwick Stakes, which warranted the gelding also polling votes in the Horse of the Year category.

The top three-year-old crown was awarded to the John Blacker-trained Swoop Dog, which pipped outstanding filly Hela by one vote.