Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year
Encyclopedia
The Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred
horse who is voted to be the champion
horse within an Australia
n racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia
, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.
This award originally started as the VRC
Award and was renamed Australia
's Champion Racehorse in 1982. A separate award was voted on between 1976/77 and 1993/4 by the ARMA with the only variations being Gurner's Lane (1982/3) and Bonecrusher
(1986/7). The voting bodies combined from 1993/4.
Only one horse has ever won the award three times, the New Zealand mare Sunline
, who was voted champion for the consecutive 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.
* Two awards made in 1982-83 & 1986-87 with ARMA selecting different winner
Australian Champion Three Year Old
Australian Champion Sprinter
Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse
Australian Champion Stayer
Australian Champion Filly or Mare
Australian Champion International Performer
Australian Champion Jumper
Australian Champion Trainer
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse who is voted to be the champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
horse within an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.
This award originally started as the VRC
VRC
VRC is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:*Vaccine Research Center*Vancouver Rowing Club, formed in 1886*Vertical redundancy check*Veteran Reserve Corps*Victoria Racing Club...
Award and was renamed Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's Champion Racehorse in 1982. A separate award was voted on between 1976/77 and 1993/4 by the ARMA with the only variations being Gurner's Lane (1982/3) and Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher has several meanings:* Bone crusher, a machine used to crush animal bones* Bonecrusher , a retired New Zealand racehorse* Bonecrusher , a fictional character in the various Transformers universes...
(1986/7). The voting bodies combined from 1993/4.
Only one horse has ever won the award three times, the New Zealand mare Sunline
Sunline
Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive...
, who was voted champion for the consecutive 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons.
| Season | Horse | Age!!Sex!!Sire!!Dam | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-2011 | Black Caviar Black Caviar (horse) Black Caviar is an undefeated Australian Thoroughbred racehorse, considered to be the best sprinter in the world, having been named WTRR World Champion Sprinter in 2010. On 31 March 2011 Black Caviar was rated one of the top Thoroughbred racehorses in the world for the first quarter of 2011 by... (Aus) |
4yo | M | Bel Esprit (Aus) | Helsinge (Aus) |
| 2009-2010 | Typhoon Tracy Typhoon Tracy Typhoon Tracy is an outstanding Australian Thoroughbred racemare who has won six group one races and was crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year for 2009/10.-Breeding:... (Aus) |
5yo | M | Red Ransom (USA) | Tracy's Element (Aus) |
| 2008-2009 | Scenic Blast Scenic Blast Scenic Blast is a Thoroughbred racehorse trained in Australia. His first group win was in the HDF McNeil Stakes. In 2009, he won two group one races, the Lightning Stakes and the King's Stand Stakes.-References:**... (Aus) |
5yo | G | Scenic (Ire) | Daughters Charm (Aus) |
| 2007-2008 | Weekend Hussler Weekend Hussler Weekend Hussler is a retired Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. He is a bay gelding by Hussonet out of Weekend Beauty . He is currently a six-year-old. Hussonet had been a very successful sire in Chile for Haras de Pirque where he stood for the largest fee of any stallion in the history of... (Aus) |
3yo | G | Hussonet (USA) | Weekend Beauty (Aus) |
| 2006-2007 | Miss Andretti Miss Andretti Miss Andretti was the 2007 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year and is the only Thoroughbred in racing history to simultaneously hold a total of five track records in Australia and England.-Breeding:... (Aus) |
6yo | M | Ihtiram (Ire) | Peggie's Bid (Aus) |
| 2005-2006 | Makybe Diva Makybe Diva Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings... (GB) |
7yo | M | Desert King Desert King Desert King is a Thoroughbred racehorse. Desert King won the Irish Derby Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was the sire of 13 stakeswinners with 34 stakeswins including Makybe Diva .... (Ire) |
Tugela (USA) |
| 2004-2005 | Makybe Diva Makybe Diva Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings... (GB) |
6yo | M | Desert King Desert King Desert King is a Thoroughbred racehorse. Desert King won the Irish Derby Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was the sire of 13 stakeswinners with 34 stakeswins including Makybe Diva .... (Ire) |
Tugela (USA) |
| 2003-2004 | Lonhro Lonhro Lonhro was a champion Australian racehorse who is now standing at stud. Nicknamed "The Black Flash", Lonhro was from the first crop of the champion Octagonal out of the Group One-placed Shadea , who also produced the Group One winner Niello... (Aus) |
5yo | H | Octagonal Octagonal Octagonal is a retired champion New Zealand-bred, Australian raced Thoroughbred racehorse, also known as 'The Big O' or 'Occy'. He was by the champion sire Zabeel, out of the champion broodmare Eight Carat, who also produced Group One winners Mouawad, Kaapstad, Diamond Lover and Marquise.Trained... (NZ) |
Shadea (NZ) |
| 2002-2003 | Northerly Northerly Northerly, foaled in 1996, was arguably Australia's best middle distance Thoroughbred horse of the early 2000s. Northerly, trained by Western Australian harness racing legend Fred Kersley, won nine Group One races, including the Australian Cup twice, and the Cox Plate, regarded as the Weight for... (Aus) |
6yo | G | Serheed (USA) | North Bell (Aus) |
| 2001-2002 | Sunline Sunline Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive... (NZ) |
6yo | M | Desert Sun (GB) | Songline (NZ) |
| 2000-2001 | Sunline Sunline Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive... (NZ) |
5yo | M | Desert Sun (GB) | Songline (NZ) |
| 1999-2000 | Sunline Sunline Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive... (NZ) |
4yo | M | Desert Sun (GB) | Songline (NZ) |
| 1998-1999 | Might and Power Might and Power Might and Power was a New Zealand bred, Australian owned and trained Thoroughbred racehorse who was named Australian Horse of the Year in 1998 and 1999. As a four-year-old, Might And Power won the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and returned at five to become only the second horse in the history of... (NZ) |
5yo | G | Zabeel Zabeel Zabeel was a New Zealand-bred Australian racehorse who has retired to stud and become a champion sire. He is a bay son of Sir Tristram from the Nureyev mare Lady Giselle... (NZ) |
Benediction (Ire) |
| 1997-1998 | Might and Power Might and Power Might and Power was a New Zealand bred, Australian owned and trained Thoroughbred racehorse who was named Australian Horse of the Year in 1998 and 1999. As a four-year-old, Might And Power won the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and returned at five to become only the second horse in the history of... (NZ) |
4yo | G | Zabeel Zabeel Zabeel was a New Zealand-bred Australian racehorse who has retired to stud and become a champion sire. He is a bay son of Sir Tristram from the Nureyev mare Lady Giselle... (NZ) |
Benediction (Ire) |
| 1996-1997 | Saintly Saintly Saintly was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who was named Australia's champion racehorse in 1997. A giant chestnut gelding by Sky Chase out of All Grace , he was bred by his trainer, Bart Cummings, who owned him in partnership with a Malaysian businessman, Dato Tan Chin Nam.Saintly gained... (Aus) |
4yo | G | Sky Chase (NZ) | All Grace (NZ) |
| 1995-1996 | Octagonal Octagonal Octagonal is a retired champion New Zealand-bred, Australian raced Thoroughbred racehorse, also known as 'The Big O' or 'Occy'. He was by the champion sire Zabeel, out of the champion broodmare Eight Carat, who also produced Group One winners Mouawad, Kaapstad, Diamond Lover and Marquise.Trained... (NZ) |
3yo | C | Zabeel Zabeel Zabeel was a New Zealand-bred Australian racehorse who has retired to stud and become a champion sire. He is a bay son of Sir Tristram from the Nureyev mare Lady Giselle... (NZ) |
Eight Carat Eight Carat Eight Carat Pieces of Eight - Klairessa, by Klairon) was a Thoroughbred broodmare in Australasia. She is without doubt the best broodmare to have ever been in Australasia being the dam of five individual Group One winners, including Octagonal, Mouawad, Kaapstad, Diamond Lover and Marquise who... (GB) |
| 1994-1995 | Jeune Jeune Jeune was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who raced in England and Australia and is best known for winning the prestigious Melbourne Cup in 1994. He was an attractive, muscular, chestnut stallion, who sometimes raced in pacifiers... (GB) |
6yo | H | Kalaglow (Ire) | Youthful (Fr) |
| 1993-1994 | Mahogany Mahogany (horse) Mahogany was an Australian thoroughbred who raced in the mid-1990s. He was aimed at the three-year-old staying events, where he won the Victoria Derby and the Australian Derby. But as an older horse he usually was restricted to sprint races.The notable exception was the 1995 W.S. Cox Plate where... (Aus) |
3yo | G | Last Tycoon Last Tycoon Last Tycoon was an Irish bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Breeders' Cup Mile and as a leading sire in Australia.-Background:Bred in Ireland by Kilfrush Stud Ltd., he was purchased by Richard C... (Ire) |
Alshandegha (USA) |
| 1992-1993 | Veandercross Veandercross Veandercross was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred gelding who won 14 stakes races, , and was chosen Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year for the 1992/93 season.... (NZ) |
4yo | G | Crossways (GB) | Lavender (NZ) |
| 1991-1992 | Let's Elope Let's Elope Let's Elope is a Champion Thoroughbred racehorse in Australia.Bred by Highview Stud in Hamilton, New Zealand, Let's Elope was a giant chestnut mare who in 1991 became the first mare in more than 50 years to complete Australia's famed Caulfield Cup - Melbourne Cup double... (NZ) |
4yo | M | Nassipour Nassipour Nassipour was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in Australia. Bred in Kentucky by the Aga Khan, his sire Blushing Groom was the 1977 European Champion Three-Year-old and who would be the 1989 Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland. Nassipour's dam was Alama, a daughter of the... (USA) |
Sharon Jane (NZ) |
| 1990-1991 | Better Loosen Up Better Loosen Up Better Loosen Up was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Japan Cup in 1990 and was named Australia's champion racehorse in 1991. He campaigned from two to seven years of age, and won 17 of his 45 starts, including eight Group One races... (Aus) |
5yo | G | Loosen Up (USA) | Better Fantasy (Aus) |
| 1989-1990 | Almaarad (Ire) | 7yo | H | Ela Mana Mou (Ire) | Silk Blend (Ire) |
| 1988-1989 | Research (Aus) | 3yo | F | Imperial Prince (Ire) | Outing (Aus) |
| 1987-1988 | Beau Zam (NZ) | 3yo | C | Zamazaan (Fr) | Belle Cherie (NZ) |
| 1986-1987 | Placid Ark Placid Ark Placid Ark was an Australian thoroughbred foaled in Western Australia. His sire Arkenstone was a winning son of the Western Australian champion sire Zvornik and his dam was Northern Queen a mare bred in South Australia by the USA imported stallion Star of the North.Bred at Asprey Stud near... (Aus) |
3yo | C | Arkenstone (Aus) | Northern Queen (Aus) |
| 1986-1987 | Bonecrusher Bonecrusher (horse) Bonecrusher Is a retired champion New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who was widely admired in both Australia and New Zealand. Bred by Bill Punch, his dam's sire was a son of a French champion, Tantieme. Bonecrusher was purchased by Peter Mitchell for just $3,250 at the Waikato Yearling Sales,... * (NZ) |
4yo | G | Pag Asa (Aus) | Imitation (NZ) |
| 1985-1986 | Bounding Away (Aus) | 2yo | F | Biscay (Aus) | Who Can Say (NZ) |
| 1984-1985 | Red Anchor Red Anchor Red Anchor was a notable Thoroughbred racehorse who raced in Australia with wins in eight Principal Races.A chestnut son of Sea Anchor from the mare Decoy Girl by Decoy Boy, he was foaled in 1981 in New Zealand and was trained by trainer Tommy Smith after originally being trained by Paul... (NZ) |
4yo | H | Sea Anchor (Ire) | Decoy Girl (GB) |
| 1983-1984 | Emancipation Emancipation (horse) Emancipation was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. By Bletchingly, Emancipation was a grey, like her dam, Ammo Girl, and her damsire, Gunsynd... (Aus) |
4yo | M | Bletchingly Bletchingly Bletchingly was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion. A brilliant sprinter, he was by the successful speed stallion Biscay out of Coogee . Bletchingly was bred by Stanley Wootton on the Baramul Stud in the Widden Valley, and was a three-quarter brother to another high-class... (Aus) |
Ammo Girl (Aus) |
| 1982-1983 | Strawberry Road Strawberry Road Strawberry Road was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who went on to race in Germany, France, the United States, and Japan... (Aus) |
3yo | C | Whiskey Road (USA) | Giftisa (NZ) |
| 1982-1983 | Gurner's Lane Gurner's Lane Gurner's Lane was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1983 champion. He is best remembered for winning the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double in 1982... * (NZ) |
4yo | G | Sir Tristram Sir Tristram For the Knight of the Round Table, see Tristan.For the ship of the same name see RFA Sir Tristram Sir Tristram was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who stood at stud in New Zealand, where he sired an extraordinary 45 Group One winners, including three Melbourne Cup winners... (Ire) |
Taiona (NZ) |
| 1981-1982 | Rose Of Kingston Rose Of Kingston Rose of Kingston was a Thoroughbred mare who raced with a great deal of success in Australia, particularly as a three-year-old. She was the Australian Horse of the Year and Australasian Champion Three-Year-Old Filly and Australasian Champion Older Mare in 1982, and after retiring from racing... (Aus) |
3yo | F | Claude (Ity) | Kingston Rose (Aus) |
| 1980-1981 | Hyperno Hyperno Hyperno was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in New Zealand. He was a wayward but brilliant galloper that won the Melbourne Cup and other group and listed races.... (NZ) |
7yo | G | Rangong (GB) | Mikarla (NZ) |
| 1979-1980 | Kingston Town Kingston Town Kingston Town was an outstanding Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won a record three Cox Plates and 11 other Group One races in a career spanning from 1979 to 1982... (Aus) |
3yo | G | Bletchingly Bletchingly Bletchingly was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion. A brilliant sprinter, he was by the successful speed stallion Biscay out of Coogee . Bletchingly was bred by Stanley Wootton on the Baramul Stud in the Widden Valley, and was a three-quarter brother to another high-class... (Aus) |
Ada Hunter (Ger) |
| 1978-1979 | Manikato Manikato Manikato was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He established new track records in three races and was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame... (Aus) |
3yo | G | Mahini (Aus) | Markato (Aus) |
| 1977-1978 | Maybe Mahal (Aus) | 5yo | M | Maybe Lad (Aus) | Faithfully Yours (Aus) |
| 1976-1977 | Surround (NZ) | 3yo | F | Sovereign Edition (Ire) | Micheline (NZ) |
| 1975-1976 | Lord Dudley (Aus) | 3yo | C | Right Honourable II (GB) | Jane Hero (Aus) |
| 1974-1975 | Leilani Leilani (horse) Leilani was a champion Thoroughbred racemare that was bred in New Zealand and raced in Australia. She won six Group One races and a total of 12 black type equivalent races, during her short racing career... (NZ) |
4yo | M | Oncidium (GB) | Lei (NZ) |
| 1973-1974 | Taj Rossi (Aus) | 3yo | C | Matrice (Aus) | Dark Queen (Aus) |
| 1972-1973 | Dayana (NZ) | 3yo | G | Oncidium (GB) | Dicidiana (NZ) |
| 1971-1972 | Gunsynd Gunsynd Gunsynd was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won 29 races and A$280,455 in prizemoney. In his seven starts over one mile he was only once defeated, by half-a-head in the Epsom Handicap.... (Aus) |
5yo | H | Sunset Hue (Aus) | Woodie Wonder (Aus) |
| 1970-1971 | Gay Icarus (Aus) | 4yo | G | Icarus (GB) | Gay M'Selle (Aus) |
| 1969-1970 | Vain Vain (horse) Vain was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse that dominated Australian sprint racing in the period 1968–70, when he won 12 of the 14 races he contested and ran second in the other two... (Aus) |
3yo | C | Wilkes (Fr) | Elated (Aus) |
| 1968-1969 | Rain Lover Rain Lover Rain Lover was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the very few horses to win the Melbourne Cup more than once. Rain Lover was sired by the good racehorse, Latin Lover his dam Rain Spot was by Valognes .He was owned and bred by Clifford A. Reid, who won the 1945 Melbourne... (Aus) |
4yo | H | Latin Lover (GB) | Rain Spot (Aus) |
Other Australian Thoroughbred Awards
Australian Champion Two Year OldAustralian Champion Two Year Old
The Australian Champion Two Year Old is awarded annually to the two year old Thoroughbred horse whose performances in Australia are deemed to be the most impressive throughout each racing season....
Australian Champion Three Year Old
Australian Champion Three Year Old
The Australian Champion Three Year Old is awarded annually to the three year old Thoroughbred horse whose performances in Australia are deemed to be the most impressive throughout the racing season....
Australian Champion Sprinter
Australian Champion Sprinter
The Australian Champion Sprinter is awarded annually to the Thoroughbred horse whose performances in Australia over distances between 1000m and 1400m are deemed to be the superior to other horses.It has been awarded since the 1998 - 1999 season....
Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse
Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse
The Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse is awarded annually to the horse whose performances in Australia over distances between 1401m and 2199m are deemed to be the superior to its rivals.It has been awarded since the 1999 - 2000 season....
Australian Champion Stayer
Australian Champion Stayer
The Australian Champion Stayer is awarded annually to the Thoroughbred horse whose performances in Australia over distances of 2,200 metres and greater are deemed to be the superior to its rivals....
Australian Champion Filly or Mare
Australian Champion Filly or Mare
The Australian Champion Filly or Mare is awarded to the Thoroughbred filly or mare who is voted to be the superior female racehorse within an Australian racing season....
Australian Champion International Performer
Australian Champion Jumper
Australian Champion Trainer