Finalists have been revealed for the 2024 Red Centre Racing Awards in the Northern Territory.
The presentation ceremony will take place following the Alice Springs race meeting at Pioneer Park on November 9.
Apart from the Alice Springs Turf Club, the Tennant Creek Racing Club – which hosts its annual Cup Day meeting in May – helps form the Alice Springs and Provincial premiership.
The equine awards include the Middle Distance/Stayer of the Year above 1400m, Sprinter of the Year up to 1200m, and Three-Year-Old of the Year.
A judging panel will vote on each category, with the winner in each group in line to become Horse of the Year.
That same judging panel will then cast their vote to determine the Horse of the Year.
The voting period is from August 1, 2023 until July 31, 2024, with the finalists in each category having at least four starts in the Red Centre.
Finalists will be assessed only on performances within the category being judged; however, intrastate and interstate performances will also be considered.
Horses nominated in their respective category are as follows.
Middle Distance/Stayer: Paul Gardner’s Better Not Fuss, Terry Gillett’s Altar Boy, Carol Hunter’s Desert Lass, Kerry Petrick’s Venting, and Ray Viney’s Duty and Quizzle.
As winner of the Alice Springs Cup (2050m) in April, Venting will no doubt come under strong consideration.
Sprinter: Gardner’s Red Wraith, Gillett’s Great Buy, Morgan’s Don’t Be Dramatic and Garrucha, and Petrick’s Throw At Da Stumps.
Red Wraith had six wins and six minor placings from 17 starts, while Garrucha, formerly trained by Russell Bell, picked up five wins and two minor placings from 11 starts.
Three-Year-Old: Gardner’s Better Not Fuss and Hey Bull, Kevin Lamprecht’s Beyond Ready, Morgan’s Don’t Be Dramatic, and Petrick’s Prancingintherain.
Better Not Fuss not only won the NT Guineas (1600m) in Alice Springs, but finished fourth in the Darwin Guineas (1600m) and NT Derby (2050m) in the Top End.
Beyond Ready – runner-up in the NT Guineas – had four Alice Springs starts and made two Darwin appearances for three wins, two wins and a third from 1200-1600m.
Gillett ended the 2023/24 campaign as the leading trainer with 25 wins from Gardner (23), Paul Denton was the leading jockey with 24 wins from Sonja Logan (19.5), and Dakota Gillett was the leading apprentice with 16 wins from Emma Lines (14).
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