Victorian HOTY finalists announced
Two of Victorian racing’s biggest names continued their spring preparations on Monday morning, just hours before being revealed as finalists in the year Victorian Racehorse Of The Year.
Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside had jumpouts 60km apart prior to being announced as Horse Of The Year rivals alongside Imperatriz, Romantic Warrior and Without A Fight.
The Victorian Racehorse Of The Year is voted on by a panel of industry officials and racing media and takes into account performances on Victorian racetracks only irrespective of where a horse is trained.
That means Pride Of Jenni’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes win can not be considered by voters but all other performances by the Ciaron Maher-trained mare, including her two Melbourne Cup Week Group 1 wins and her All-Star Mile success, can.
She condemned Mr Brightside to second placing in both the Champions Mile and All-Star Mile, but that Lindsay Park gelding did have her measure in the Group 1 C F Orr Stakes.
Mr Brightside’s 800m Flemington jumpout was his first of the campaign and the seven-year-old son of Bullbars had a low-key workout, finishing midfield, beaten around three lengths, after travelling wide throughout.
It was a different story at Cranbourne, where Pride Of Jenni was having her second jumpout of the campaign.
After a light workout two weeks earlier, the seven-year-old was allowed to bowl along in front on Monday and cruised to the line six lengths clear of her nearest rival.
Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside are slated to renew their rivalry in the $750,000 Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 31.
The Victorian Racehorse Of The Year is one of a number of awards presented at this Saturday night’s Victorian Racing Awards, where the Scobie Breasley Medal, Tommy Corrigan Medal and the Most Outstanding Training Performance will also be presented.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Mile test for Harry’s Yacht in 2026 Vobis Gold Reef
Will Larkin is confident the timing is right to test Harry’s Yacht over the mile when the gelding contests Saturday’s Vobis Gold Reef at Flemington. The four-year-old has enjoyed a strong preparation to date, registering two wins at benchmark level and adding two placings in Vobis races over 1200 metres. Training in...