Well known Riverina breeder-owner-trainer Paul Kahlefeldt achieved yet another moment of glory in a 30 year involvement in the sport when he was crowned the Woodlands Stud Victorian Breeder of the Year for 2023.

Kahlefeldt, who watched the awards ceremony on Trots Vision from his Wagga base, said: “I was shocked really. I didn’t expect to win it. I was just grateful to be among the nominees.”

During the season Kahlefeldt’s Redbank Lodge Standardbreds produced nine Vicbred eligible starters including Swayzee and War Dan Buddy with 26 wins recorded for total stakemoney of over $1.2million.

Kahlefeldt said: “I’ve only got a couple of mares now but my boys Jarrod and Justin are breeding more than I am. I’ve got a full sister to Timmy Rictor called Moreartsthanclass that is currently racing.”

Paul bred the superstar Leap To Fame, Swayzee and Maximus Red out of the Art Major mare Lettucereason, the 2023 Australian Broodmare of the Year.

The winner of the Benstud Standardbreds Victorian Pacing Broodmare of the Year award was Coppagoodone NZ, who was represented by two starters in the 4YO Pacing Entire/Gelding of the Year Catch A Wave and Yambukian. The pair collected $877,210 in stakes between them.

Coppagoodone is owned by Benstud Standardbreds principal Peter Judd and his wife Judy and Sydneysiders Peter and Zilla O’Shea.

Unfortunately, Coppagoodone died while foaling a Captaintreacherous filly last year.

“We managed to save the foal which is a full sister to Catch A Wave,” Peter said. “We are going to keep her to breed from. We need to stay in that family.”

Justa Phoenix, a mare owned by Finley enthusiast Ash Haynes and Chris Shaw, took out the Aldebaran Park Victorian Trotting Broodmare of the Year award. She had two starters in the Group 1 winner Arcee Phoenix and Querencia who banked $156, 519 in stakes for the season.

Haynes said: “It’s a massive thrill to win Duncan McPherson’s award. It means a lot to us as he’s been a wonderful supporter of what we’ve done over the journey.”

Coppagoodone and Justa Phoenix were both resident mares at Benstud’s Katunga property.

Balllarat breeder Pat Driscoll’s Yabby Dam Farms produced three winners in the trotters only section at the Awards night. They were the mighty Just Believe, the 2023 Victorian Horse of the Year and Aged Trotter of the Year, The Locomotive (3YO Trotting Colt/Gelding) and the Aged Trotting Mare of the Year Gardena Ronda.

Pastor Stephen, who is standing at Kath McIntosh’s Llowalong Farms, has made a flying start to his stud career in America. He has left nine starters including three winners from 30 foals

Poster Boy, a studmate of Pastor Stephen, continues to lead the first season sires in Australia. His stock has earned $234,000, more than $80,000 ahead of the second placed Stay Hungry, followed by Captain Crunch, The Storm Inside and McWicked

Darraweit Guim horsewoman Lisa Miles figures as the breeder, owner, trainer and driver of the three-year-old Rumpelstiltskin, who completed back-to-back successes at Yarra Valley