Fred Hoysted Medal finalists
09 Aug 2012 | Racing Victoria Ltd Racing Victoria (RV) on Thursday announced the six finalists for the coveted 2012 Fred Hoysted Medal - Victorian racing’s most prestigious award for trainers.
The Medal, which is presented by Commotion Creative, is awarded to the most outstanding trainer of the season based on selected performances on Victorian racetracks.
The winner will be announced at the 2011-12 Victorian Thoroughbred Racing Awards presented by Tabcorp this Sunday night, 12 August at Crown’s Palladium.
A selection committee headed by the Australian Trainers Association (ATA) nominates a finalist every two months throughout the season, taking into account training performances during that period.
The six bi-monthly finalists are:
1. Nigel Blackiston – August / September
2. Mikel Delzangles – October / November
3. Mick Clark – December / January
4. Peter Moody – February / March
5. Robert Smerdon – April / May
6. Ciaron Maher – June / July
Flemington-based Nigel Blackiston was voted the standout trainer in the pre-Spring period for preparing a quartet of winners at Echuca on 22 August 2011 and guiding Littorio to an emotion-charged win in the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on 3 September.
The dual Group 1 winner was making his first appearance from an injury-enforced 17 month layoff when he stormed home to defeat a star-studded field first-up over a mile.
Champion French trainer Mikel Delzangles is a chance to become the first international winner of the Fred Hoysted Medal, thanks to his memorable Spring Racing Carnival.
The visiting trainer prepared Dunaden to win the Group 3 Centrebet.com Geelong Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) in his two Victorian appearances.
Unheralded Horsham trainer Mick Clark is a finalist for his role in preparing iron mare Let’s Be Happy for continued success in Melbourne throughout summer.
Under Clark’s tutelage, the gallant mare won her sixth and seventh races of the season – more than any other horse in the state – during the December / January voting period.
Reigning Fred Hoysted Medallist Peter Moody earned his nomination for his deeds with imported stayer Manighar and the great Black Caviar during the Melbourne Festival Racing.
Moody produced Manighar with new found brilliance to win the Carlyon Cup (1600m) first-up en route to a memorable Group 1 Dubai Australian Cup (2000m) victory.
The judges also acknowledged his efforts in getting Black Caviar to claim Group 1 victories in the Sportingbet Orr Stakes (1400m) and Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) despite
dropping sharply in distance on a surprise seven-day back-up in February.
Another outstanding Warrnambool May Carnival proved the catalyst for trainer Robert Smerdon’s inclusion as a finalist, as his jumps team dominated at the ‘Bool.
Feature wins to Fareer (Brierly Steeplechase) and Black And Bent (Galleywood Hurdle) on the opening two days of the carnival, as well as maiden jumps successes to Brungle Cry and Kirribilli Gold, secured Smerdon the votes for the April/May period.
The final nomination went the way of Ciaron Maher who was recognised for his exceptional efforts with comeback jumper Bashboy during the winter (June/July) period.
Bashboy returned to the track after almost two years on the sidelines to secure a hat-trick of wins over the fences, including dominant victories in the Crisp Steeplechase (3900m) and the Grand National Steeplechase (4500m), both at Sportingbet Park Sandown.
The Fred Hoysted Medal is named in honour of the Hall of Fame trainer who won a record 17 premierships between 1933 – 1958.
It will be presented alongside the Scobie Breasley Medal and Staging Connections Victorian Racehorse of the Year Award on Sunday night.