The 2025 Victorian Breeding Awards has once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Headlining the event was the exceptional stallion Toronado, who claimed the prestigious IRT Champion Victorian Sire title, as well as the Racing Victoria VOBIS Sire of the Year award.
Toronado, standing at Swettenham Stud, has enjoyed an extraordinary season a decade after he retired to stud, with his progeny consistently excelling on the track, cementing his reputation as one of Victoria’s premier sires.
Another standout award winner was three-time Group 1 winner Treasurethe Moment, who enjoyed a stellar season crowned as both the Magic Millions Champion Victorian Bred 3YO and the Breednet Champion Victorian Bred Racehorse.
A homebred for Yulong Stud her consistent top-level performances in winning the Group 1 VRC Oaks and Group 1 Australian Oaks double made her a true star of the season and one to watch moving into the spring.
Yulong Stud was well-represented across the night, also taking out Racing Victoria VOBIS Nominator of the Year and the Donovan & Co Champion Victorian Breeder.
This year’s Inglis Champion Victorian Bred 2YO was awarded to promising juvenile Within the Law who continued to step up in her two-year-old season recording three wins and three placings from her seven starts, including a second at Group 1 level.
The Thoroughbred Breeders Australia Rising Star Award was this year bestowed on Swettenham Stud’s Marcus Heritage.
The 25-year-old has demonstrated outstanding work ethic and passion, marking him as one of the most exciting up-and-coming figures in the breeding industry.
Former Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria President James O’Brien was recognised with this year’s Inglis Service to the Industry Award.
The passionate owner and breeder was honoured for his invaluable contribution to the breeding industry.
Bellla Orfana, the dam of champion mare Bella Nipotina won the Avenel Equine Hospital Champion Victorian Broodmare award for the second-straight year.
It was an emotional victory for connections given Bella Orfana had tragically passed last year after battling cancer.
Having made an immediate impact with his first crop of runners, including fellow award winner Within the Law, it was Yulong’s Luke Vega who received this year’s IRT Champion Victorian First Season Sire.
It was a very special win for Janice McKenna who took out this year’s Kentucky Equine Research & BARASTOC Leading Victorian Small Breeder highlighted by the Group 1 achievements of Another Wil.
After taking out their first Victorian Training Premiership in more than fifteen years, Lindsay Park also received this year’s Racing Victoria VOBIS Trainer of the Year.
The Racing Victoria VOBIS Horse of the Year was Blackberry Bomb, awarded for her accomplishments in her 3YO season when the daughter of Brazen Beau recorded three victories for trainer Simon Zahra and connections.
Full list of award winners –
Racing Victoria VOBIS Nominator of the Year - Yulong
Racing Victoria VOBIS Sire of the Year - Toronado
Racing Victoria VOBIS Trainer of the Year - Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Racing Victoria VOBIS Horse of the Year - Blackberry Bomb
Inglis Champion Victorian Bred 2YO - Within the Law
Magic Millions Champion Victorian Bred 3YO - Treasurethe Moment
Breednet Champion Victorian Bred Racehorse - Treasurethe Moment
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia Rising Star Award - Marcus Heritage
Inglis Service to the Industry Award - James O’Brien
Donovan & Co Champion Victorian Breeder - Yulong Stud
Avenel Equine Hospital Champion Victorian Broodmare - Bella Orfana
Kentucky Equine Research & BARASTOC Leading Victorian Small Breeder – Janice McKenna
IRT Champion Victorian First Season Sire - Lucky Vega
IRT Champion Victorian Sire - Toronado
