Blake Shinn wins his second Scobie Breasley Medal
Premiership winning jockey Blake Shinn has added to his stellar season claiming a second win in the Scobie Breasley Medal for riding excellence.
Shinn returned to Victoria last August following a three-year stint in Hong Kong and captured his second ‘Scobie’, 18 years after collecting the coveted prize as an apprentice.
The Scobie Breasley Medal is voted on by Racing Victoria Stewards at all metropolitan meetings on a 3-2-1 basis with Shinn polling 61 votes to lead home 11-time winner Damien Oliver on 39 votes.
The 2022-23 season also saw Shinn collect his first Roy Higgins Medal as the leading Metropolitan Jockey with 66 victories.
New Zealand native Aaron Kuru won the jumps jockeys equivalent to the Scobie Breasley Medal, the Tommy Corrigan Medal.
Cox Plate winner Anamoe was a runaway winner in the Victorian Racehorse of the Year which recognises performances on Victorian racetracks.
The recently retired entire polled 115 votes from a panel comprising media, racecallers and chief handicapper to lead home Alligator Blood (43), Gold Trip (40), In Secret (26) and Mr Brightside (12).
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace claimed a third successive victory in the Fred Hoysted Medal which recognises excellence in training ranks, both on and off the track while also winning both the Victorian and Metropolitan Trainers’ Premierships, landing 266 winners statewide along with the Melbourne Cup.
Carleen Hefel won both the Victorian and Metropolitan Apprentices’ Premierships, Celine Gaudray was voted the Victorian Jockeys’ Associations Rising Star while Daniel Stackhouse was the leading Victorian rider for the season statewide.
Former jumps jockey Clayton Douglas won the Colin Alderson Award which recognises an emerging talent in training ranks under the age of 40.
Only three years into his training career, Douglas last season claimed Australia’s richest race, The Everest, with Giga Kick, one of 11 individual winners for the trainer during 2022-23.
For the first time, the awards ceremony acknowledged Victoria’s Off The Track program.
Louise Abbey was named RV Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year while Jessica Cocks was named the RV Emerging Retrainer of the Year.
More Racing News
Mr consistency heads to the 2026 Ballarat Cup
Ocean Beyond might not always warm the hearts of punters, but he remains an exceptionally consistent earner for his connections. The Simon Ryan-trained gelding will attempt to secure his biggest payday yet when he contests the $500,000 Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) on Saturday, entering the race with more than $535,000 already...
Bar raised for in-form colt Swift Legend
Swift Legend has earned his opportunity in stronger company after back-to-back midweek victories, but jockey Jason Collett remains cautious as the colt continues to mature. The Dundeel youngster lines up in Sunday’s Vinnie @ Yarraman Park Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill, stepping out from recent wins at Warwick Farm and Canterbury. Collett says...
Inhabit out to book a 2026 Magic Millions Classic trip
Unbeaten filly Inhabit will be racing for a Magic Millions berth when she steps out again on Saturday. A stylish debut winner at Murray Bridge in October, she now lines up in the Sportsbet Same Race Multi Two-Year-Old Plate (1000m) at Morphettville Parks. Her assignment has been simplified with three scratchings, leaving...
Rob and Annabel Archibald hoping to return north with West Of Africa
Despite Sydney lacking a feature race this weekend, Sunday’s Rosehill program will be pivotal for Rob and Annabel Archibald as they shape their Magic Millions carnival team. The Archibalds will run West Of Africa and Mickey’s Medal in the TAB Handicap (1400m), with both aiming to justify a January trip to...
Tommy Berry to test the summer carnival waters in 2025 George Moore Stakes
Tommy Berry will be a key figure in Brisbane this weekend as he reunites with Caballus, while also unveiling a valuable Magic Millions hopeful. Berry’s association with Caballus includes a Flemington stakes win two starts ago, prior to the sprinter backing up into the Champions Sprint, where he was unplaced behind...
SA raider Promises Kept chases 2025 Ballarat Cup
Trainer Michael Hickmott is confident that new stable acquisition Promises Kept can give his owners plenty to look forward to over the next fortnight. The gelding heads east for Saturday’s Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) and may then target the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) seven days later. Previously trained by Greg Eurell and...
Michael Dee makes Ascot return for Apulia in 2025 Northerly Stakes
Group 1-winning jockey Michael Dee is set to make a rare Perth appearance as he chases more elite-level success aboard Apulia. Dee will ride the Lindsay Park-trained entire in the Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot, marking his first visit to the track since November 2018. The Victorian lightweight has a strong record...
Son of ill-fated stallion St Jean scores impressive debut win
Melek, a staying-bred son of St Jean, made the perfect start to his racing career with a determined win over the mile at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday. The Ciaron Maher-trained four-year-old debuted in the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1600m) and made an immediate impact. Starting at $4.20 after firming late, Melek charged...
Weather prompts Rosehill races transfer
Saturday’s Rosehill race meeting will now be held on Sunday after Racing NSW moved to avoid anticipated extreme heat across Sydney, with temperatures set to surge past 40 degrees. Racing NSW stewards had tracked forecasts closely all week and, with no relief in sight, chief steward Tom Moxon confirmed the rescheduling...
Slick return has Lubrication ready to rumble in 2025 George Moore Stakes
Lubrication has put his hand up for a strong summer campaign after a powerhouse first-up performance that sends him into the Group Three George Moore Stakes at Doomben full of confidence. The gelding enjoyed a breakout moment in May when winning the $1 million The Archer (1300m) at Rockhampton, defeating future...