Contenders emerge as shortlist announced for stud and stable staff awards
Record nominations from across Australia and from all sections of the thoroughbred industry have been condensed to a shortlist of 36 candidates for the 2022 Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards (SSSA).
The Australian edition of the SSSAs, staged jointly by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, Racing Australia and Godolphin, is part of the worldwide series of awards that shine a spotlight on thousands of staff within the industry.
Over the nominations period, the shortlisting committee, chaired by Melissa Weatherley, and also including Jenny Watson and Peter Heagney, were presented with a record number, and increased quality, of written nominations.
Key insights from the committee included the number of new nominees and nominators with an exceptional number of nominations in the newcomer category. By the time the winners are announced at next month’s ceremony, the SSSA will have provided cash rewards approaching $1 million.
This year the SSSA has the support of sponsors from across the racing and breeding industry for each of the seven award categories – Dedication to Breeding, Dedication to Racing, Horsemanship, Thoroughbred Care and Welfare, Leadership, Administration and Ancillary Services and the Newcomer.
An overall Thoroughbred Excellence Award sponsored by Godolphin goes to a winner from the above categories (excluding the Thoroughbred Care and Welfare and Newcomer), judged to have made a “significant, exceptional contribution” to the industry.
The winners in each category, excluding the Newcomer, will receive a cash prize of $10,000 and a trophy with $3,000 to each runner-up and $1,000 to share among workplace colleagues. The Newcomer winner receives $5,000 and an educational visit to Dubai while the Excellence winner receives a further $5,000 cash prize.
The shortlist of nominees for the 2022 SSSAs are:
Leadership Award sponsored by Victoria Racing Club (Stud or Stable): Fionnan McCarthy (McEvoy Mitchell Racing, VIC), Johanne Taylor (Chris Waller Racing, VIC), Liesl Baumann (Cressfield Stud NSW), Samantha Parkes (Godolphin Woodlands, NSW), Sean Keogh (Godolphin Australia, VIC).
Horsemanship Award sponsored by Inglis (Stud or Stable): Adam Shankley (Arrowfield Stud NSW), Emile Fredricks (Widden Stud NSW), Hazel Fertier (Freelancer, SA), Jesse Byrne (Byrne Equine WA), Wajid Ali (Freedman Brothers NSW).
Dedication to Breeding Award sponsored by Magic Millions: Ashley Porter (Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, VIC), Bailey Allen (Bucklee Farm, VIC), Drew Plater (Strawberry Hill Stud, NSW), Kayleigh Murray (Fernrigg Farm, NSW), Kelly Frost (Godolphin, VIC).
Dedication to Racing Award sponsored by the Australian Turf Club: Brett Killion (Chris Waller, QLD), Karen Oakford (Ellerton Racing, VIC), Michael O’Grady (JKB Racing, TAS), Timothy Hanley (McEvoy Mitchell Racing, VIC), Reg Fleming (Godolphin, VIC).
Administration and Ancillary Award sponsored by the MRC Foundation: Amanda Pettman (Arrowfield Stud, NSW), Emma Cully (Star Thoroughbreds, NSW), Jess Hood (Arrowfield Stud, NSW), Kylie Mills (Godolphin, NSW), Sam Scally (Cumani Racing, VIC).
Newcomer Award (Stud or Stable) sponsored by Thoroughbred Industry Careers and Maruc Oldhum College: Maddeline Dunbar (Godolphin, NSW), Madie Sanders (Travis Doudle, Racing SA), Matilda Jones (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing NSW), Mia Herzog (McEvoy Mitchell Racing, VIC), Michaela Kennedy (Coolmore, NSW), Sacha Roberts (Michael Kent Racing, VIC).
Thoroughbred Care and Welfare Award sponsored by Racing Queensland: Fiona McIntyre (McIntyre & Lumsden Equine, VIC), Grace Chantler (Second Chance Horses, VIC), Laura Cheshire (Self-employed, QLD), Louise Abey (Self-employed, VIC), Lyn Shand (Equus, VIC).