STAR Tasmanian equine cult hero The Cleaner was last night named Tasmanian Horse of the Year for season 2014-15 at a gala dinner at Country Club Casino in Launceston.
The Cleaner was a unanimous choice with his performances interstate netting him two Group wins and a minor placing in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes enough to give him the edge over Banca Mo, Geegees Blackflash, Genuine Lad and star three-year-old Admiral.
The Cleaner’s owners Bill Fawdry, Paul Burt and Jim Lowish were elated and the horse’s trainer Mick Burles said he is hopeful of another successful spring campaign in Melbourne.
”I’m rapt that he has won this award because the horse deserves it,” Burles said.
“He raced against the best in Australia over a lengthy period and he won two Group races and he definitely put Tasmanian racing back on the map,” he said.
Burles also was the recipient of the inaugural Thoroughbred Advisory Network’s Recognition Award for services to the industry for his promotion of Tasmanian racing nationally through his involvement with The Cleaner.
The top three-year-old title was awarded to the Barry Campbell-trained Admiral who won the $100,000 Tasmanian Guineas and while outgunned in the weight-for-age Thomas Lyons in Hobart he defeated The Cleaner in the $100,000 weight-for-age George Adams Plate on Launceston Cup day.
Star three-year-old filly Geegees Goldengirl who won the Strutt Stakes and Tasmanian Oaks over 2100 metres was the clear runner-up in the 3YO award but she was rewarded for her efforts as the recipient of the Race Mare or Filly award sponsored by Armidale Stud.
Geegees Goldengirl is owned by her breeders Paul and Elizabeth Geard who also had success with Gee Gees Top Notch who was named the best two-year-old.
Gee Gees Top Notch won the $100,000 Elwick Stakes and two minor features races to be a clear winner from Siorca that won the $40,000 Sires Produce Stakes defeating Gee Gees Top Notch.
The Geards also were the state’s leading owners winning 53 races from 26 individual winners and they dominated during the Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival.
Their stallion Wordsmith was named best Tasmanian-based juveniles sire while the late Savoire Vivre secured the leading Tasmanian-based sire award.
Grenville Stud’s broodmare Centafit was named broodmare of the year for being the dam of multiple Group 1-winning three-year-old Mongolian Khan that won the New Zealand Derby before crossing the Tasman to win the $1 million ATC Australian Derby at Randwick.
Graeme McCulloch’s Grenville Stud also received the UBET Industry Recognition Award for breeding Mongolian Khan.