Gary Fennessy collects Thoroughbred Excellence award on night of celebration for industry participants
The prestigious Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards ceremony was held yesterday evening on the Gold Coast, in a celebration of the outstanding talent and dedication of the participants that turn the cogs of the thoroughbred industry in Australia.
And the tale of the night’s feature award winner, Lindsay Park’s Gary Fennessy, no more epitomises the essence of the commitment and hard work that was recognised in yesterday’s event.
Fennessy, a servant of more than 50 years to the Hayes’ family operation at Lindsay Park, collected the Thoroughbred Excellence Award as well as claiming the Dedication To Racing category, winning the most votes for the accolade. He receives the $10,000 prize for the latter and a further $5,000 for the former.
‘Bim’, as Fennessy is affectionately known, has witnessed many highlights during a long and distinguished career at Euroa, where he now holds the role of assistant trainer, and was part of the team that travelled to Japan and achieved the extraordinary feat of winning the Japan Cup (Listed, 2400m) with Better Loosen Up (Loosen Up) in 1990.
“Going to Japan and winning the Japan Cup (is my favourite moment), it hasn’t been done since,” said Fennessy to ANZ Bloodstock News after he was announced the winner at yesterday’s awards ceremony.
“It’s not an easy job and we had the right horse at the right time.”
Through his half-century of dedication, Fennessy began with patriarch Colin Hayes at Lindsay Park, winning the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) with Beldale Ball (Nashua) (1980) and At Talaq (Roberto) (1986) and has served under his son David. From next season, Ben Hayes will partner with his brother, JD Hayes as the third generation to take the helm at Lindsay Park, and Fennessy continues to look forward to the challenge.
“The boys are taking over now and Ben will be the head trainer and JD will be involved,” said Fennessy. “I think it’s quite exciting with all the fresh ideas and the different ways we tackle things. I think it’ll be great.”
Elsewhere on the night, another long-term servant to a single family was recognised for his achievements, as Yarradale Park’s David Hanratty took out the Leadership Award. A culmination of a five-month trip to Australia for the Irishman that saw him never go back.
“WA means a lot to me. I came here ten years ago with one suitcase and I was supposed to only be here for five months. I came over when War Chance had his first season,” recalled Hanratty.
“I then met my beautiful wife Susan, and she made me fall in love with her and now I’ve been here ten years with the two kids.”
Hanratty joined the Ron Sayers-owned operation in 2011 as stallion manager and doubles up as yearling manager during the busy yearling sales period.
“Everyday on the farm when we’re teaching young people, you do need to remember that they’re young people and a lot of them don’t have a lot of experience, so you’re constantly making sure of their safety, along with the safety of the valuable horses,” said Hanratty.
“I work for two great people in Ron Sayers and his wife. They’re not just my bosses, they’re my best mates, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
While the evening paid tribute to long-term dedication, it also took note of fresh faces to the industry and the impact they have made in their short careers to date. And it was Jack Cripps, who swapped ‘footy’ for racing when he took charge of sales and syndicates for the McEvoy-Mitchell Racing team in June last year, who won the Newcomers Award, earning an educational trip to Dubai and a $5,000 winners’ prize.
“Winding back the clock, and to be able to work with horses in the first place would have been a privilege and something I thought would be a bit of a dream, but to actually sell horses, and combine my passion with what my strengths are is an absolute pleasure,” said Western Australian Cripps, who graduated from the Thoroughbred Industry Careers’ Explorer Program.
“When I started the course I didn’t want to have the blinkers on and I wanted to take a broad view of what I could do in the industry, and I’m still a little bit like that,” added Cripps. “But I definitely think the passion of trying to buy horses for people and watching their success is something that I’m more inclined to.
“The salesman comes out in me in getting those people who are looking for a horse and then getting the success for them and seeing the smile on their faces is definitely the highlight.”
A total of seven awards were handed out on the night, including the Horsemanship Award, which went to Mandy Radecker, a former star apprentice in Queensland who had her riding career curtailed through injury, while the Dedication to Breeding category went to former Twin Hills stud manager Steve Brien.
The Thoroughbred Care and Welfare award was claimed by Victoria’s Jade Willis and Cassandra Simmonds of Magic Millions was awarded recognition in the Administration and Ancillary Services category.