We're celebrating Victoria's premier performers of 2017-18 at the Gordon Rothacker Medal Night at Crown's Palladium in the heart of Melbourne.

Follow on below as the awards happen.

 

2YO Filly of the Year: Kualoa

Owner/breeder: Bruce Edward

“Certainly you have got to love a horse that tries as hard as she does, and she tries very, very hard.

"As a breeder I’d love to win an Oaks. I’ve never won an Oaks so surely that’s the target next year.”

 

2YO Pacing Colts and Geldings: Centenario

Owner: Tim Bunning

“We’re thrilled to win, because both he and Hurricane Harley are very serious horses.

"Our horse has done it from the start, two Group 1s, and beaten a neck by Hurricane Harley in the Breeders Crown, when probably looking for the paddock at that stage.

“Obviously the Derbies first-up (are the aim next season) Victoria and NSW, we’d be very pleased to win one of those, then a freshen-up and have a go at the breeders Crown later in the year.”

 

2YO Trotting Fillies: Sleepee

Trainer: Alison Alford

“We just took it one week at a time. It was a roller-coaster ride, I probably had a bit more faith than (Chris Alford), we just kept rolling and it worked out well in the end.”

 

2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings: Always Ready

Owner: Geoff Berry

“Unbelievable. This has been a sensational start for us as owners. It’s been fantastic to go to Maryborough and Melton and watch this horse run and achieve unbelievable results."

 

3YO Pacing Fillies: Shez All Rock

Breeder: George Tennant 

"Unbelievable season, I must thank Mark Pitt. And Emma and Clayton for their early work."

 

Trainer: Mark Pitt

“I’m sure she’ll do well over in America.

“There’s been plenty of super fillies out there but I think this one is right up there with them.”

 

3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the Year: Poster Boy

Breeder/owner: Bill Anderson

“As most people know he’s my favourite son… we’ve had some very nice horses but this guy’s got the personality and the ability to go right to the top.

“We’re pleased with what we’ve achieved, this is a pleasure for Anne and I, we have great staff and we’re really pleased with Emma and Clayton.”

 

3YO Trotting Fillies: Moonshine Linda

Owner/trainer: Neville Pangrazio

“It’s unbelievable, she’s just terrific. We love her. Group 1 Gav, that’s the place to be so we sent her off."

 

3YO Trotting Colts/Geldings: Wobelee

Breeder/owner: Colin Murphy

"I didn't think he'd win... this is a big shock. I didn't think he could win. Anyway, thank you very much. 

"He did a very good job and we went to NZ and took them on, but we couldn't beat them over there, but it's a hard task to go to NZ and win and he deserved the chance and I don't regret going. But gee it's hard to beat them over there."

 

4YO Pacing Mares: Carlas Pixel 

Owner: Shannon Nixon

“She’s just got ticker and she’s very, very fast.

“We’ll see how things play out. At this stage, next year we’ve got the good mares’ sprint in Melton on Hunter Cup night, then maybe another crack at the Ladyship Mile.

“I want to especially thank Mark Denyer and (trainer) Dean Braun for the job they've done with her."

 

4YO Pacing Entires and Geldings: Jilliby Kung Fu

Driver: Glen Craven

“He was a really nice horse all the way through, two, three and four. Wasn’t quite there as a 2yo. At 3yo as the season went on he got better and better. When he came back as a 4yo he was just a beast.

“Everything’s progressing well, he’s enjoying his pick of grass while he gets ice on his legs. He’s a handful but hopefully he comes back bigger and better."

 

4YO Trotting Mares: Margaret Ruth

Driver: Anne-Maree Conroy

“We love her. Everywhere I go people say I love Margaret Ruth, she’s my favourite horse, a lot of people do say that to me.

“I wouldn’t say she’s fragile, but she’s young and hasn’t matured. She’s not like an old trotter you can race around week to week. If you don’t nominate you can’t go in it … so I’ll have a look when the time comes, but it’s not ideal to her.

"I'd like to acknowledge my dad, who with mum bred Margaret Ruth and got her going. I've had to take her over and it's a big deal."

 

4YO Trotting Entires and Geldings: Kheiron

Trainer: Peter Lane

“He’s just our baby, we don’t think of him as a racehorse. He was the first horse born at home and he’s always shown a bit of ability. He’s progressed every year.

“He’s a playful type of horse and he’s become very difficult at times to get on with, but 90% of the time he’s very good and if you can get him right and shoe him and he’s happy… I get more nervous but he doesn’t know. I must say Chris (Alford) does an amazing job and they have a great affinity.”

 

Aged Trotting Mares: Maori Time

Owner: Fred Crews

“I’ve booked again for next year (the Elitloppet) and it was a wonderful experience. The whole experience (overseas) has been incredible. The things we saw there were just incredible and I think we can compete on the world stage if we take the right horses over there. I think there are a number of horses racing at the moment who would equip themselves well over in Europe."

 

Aged Trotting Entires and Geldings: Sparkling Success

Owner/trainer: John Meade

John Meade

“He’s a horse that you don’t even dream about. Like, I’ve trained horses now for a fair while and my father in law had horses all his life, and you just hope you get a nice horse, but you know, Peter Craven said, “oh he’s a nice horse” and I said “oh he’s all right”, I didn’t think he was as good as he is. He just keeps on trying the little fella. Chris (Svanosio) will tell you how good he is. When you can run a mile race in Bendigo like he did and sit parked and coast to the line running Australian record, how good is he? I don’t know… I just wanted to take him to America to put Australian trotting on the map, but that didn’t happen…

On not being able to go to America with horse:

“You have to put it into perspective a bit… he’s just a horse. Everyone here in this whole joint, they’ve got mates and friends who have had cancer or have lost somebody… this horse is special to me and our family… but you have to put it into perspective. He’ll be back… There’s only one little bit of a story I have to tell you… everyone in this room knows I don’t have a mobile phone, and I don’t like Melbourne, only in the rear vision mirror, I sat out the Warwick Motel in New York City waiting for Mick Guerin to pick me and take me for a night out… but in the good old days, you make an agreement you turn up. He said he would. I sat there, I waited … but nah… bit like the dog, where he waited for the soldier to come back, I waited for Mick to turn up but he didn’t turn up. Suppose he’ll come up one day when I get a horse over there…”

 

Aged Pacing Mares: Ameretto

Trainer/driver: Kerryn Manning

“It’s tough in the grade she’s in, she’s obviously one of the best mares, but has held her own in the open class as well. To be going still so well is fantastic.

“I think so (on ID18) … with the right run in those races she’s proven she’s right up there with the best and it’s going to be a tough series, but she’s the sort of horse who gets better when she races. It’s just exciting to have a horse good enough to be in it and one that’s not without a chance with the right luck.

 

Aged Pacing Entires/Gelding: Lennytheshark

Trainer: David Aiken

“We had him for a good four years and it was just a great ride and it’s over now, and we hope he has a good period at stud.

“He’s unreal. We were never disappointed with him, even when he got beat he did his best every time. I waited all my life to get a horse like him and I’m glad I lived long enough to get one."

 

Overall Victorian Horse of the Year: Jilliby Kung Fu

Trainer: Marg Lee

“It’s huge. We’re very excited and didn’t expect it, so it’s a great thrill.

“He’s the best we’ve had. It’s the sort of thing you dream of. My brothers, mum and dad, we’ve built this up and this is what we’ve been working on for so long, it’s just a huge thrill.

“One of the girls at HRV told me I had to come, so that’s how come I’m here. Jason said I’ve won it (Concession Drivers Award) the last 4 years. I wore a dress as well!”