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At the NSW Racehorse Owners Awards held at Royal Randwick on Thursday night, Anamoe, the retired champion from Godolphin, was awarded the NSW Horse of the Year title. Additionally, the Bart Cummings Medal saw a historic win by apprentice Zac Lloyd.
At the awards ceremony, Anamoe was expected to be the star of the show. However, it was Lloyd who surprised everyone and made history by becoming the first apprentice jockey to win the coveted Bart Cummings Medal.
This award is given to the most consistent and outstanding jockey or trainer in NSW racing during the season and has been won by Chris Waller for the past 12 years.
Despite this, Lloyd's impressive achievement of riding 76 city winners to win the Sydney apprentice premiership and finish second in the senior jockey title race was enough to earn him the Bart Cummings Medal. He received 81 votes, while Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott came in second with 64 votes, followed by Waller with 62.
In addition to winning the Bart Cummings Medal, Lloyd was also awarded the Theo Green Medal for being Sydney's leading apprentice. Meanwhile, his close friend and rival apprentice, Dylan Gibbons, was awarded the Racing Writers Personality of the Year award.
"Zac Lloyd is an exceptionally talented jockey and is just one of a number of a new generation of remarkable young riders currently competing in NSW,'' said Peter V'landys, Racing NSW chief executive.
"Zac has enjoyed a highly successful season where he also won the Sydney apprentices' premiership but to beat the 12-time Bart Cummings Medal winner Chris Waller highlights the enormous magnitude of the win. Congratulations are extended to Zac and his racing family."
Premier Trainer Wins 13th Consecutive Tommy Smith Medal, Champion Jockey Retains George Moore Medal.
Sydney's premier trainer, Waller, won his 13th consecutive Tommy Smith Medal, while James McDonald, the reigning champion jockey, retained the George Moore Medal. Anamoe, who has retired to stand at Darley Stud this spring, was a six-time Group One winner last season, earning the Champion Miler and Middle Distance awards, along with Horse of the Year title, for his impressive wins in the Winx Stakes, George Main Stakes, Might And Power Stakes, Cox Plate, Chipping Norton Stakes, and George Ryder Stakes.
At the awards ceremony, Shinzo was recognized as the Champion 2YO after winning the Golden Slipper. Giga Kick, who triumphed in The Everest, was named the top Sprinter along with In Secret, who shared the Champion 3YO title.
Additionally, Durston was awarded the Stayers title after emerging victorious in the Newcastle Cup and Wyong Cup. Other notable winners included Icebath, Opal Ridge, Insurrection, and the joint winners of the Queen of the Autumn category - Atishu and Sunshine In Paris. Finally, Phylisha Doyle from the Waller stable was named Strapper of the Year.