The 2026 Victorian Breeding Awards have once again showcased the outstanding achievements within Victoria’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
Hosted at South Melbourne’s Luminare on Saturday 1 August, the evening was headlined by breeder Janice McKenna. For a second year in a row, Janice was crowned the Yulong Leading Victorian Small Breeder, highlighted by the emotional Group 1 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double feat of Half Yours - who also claimed the title of Breednet Champion Victorian Bred Racehorse.
Also bred by McKenna, Flying Done won the Racing Victoria VOBIS Horse of the Year, with the 3YO collecting VOBIS Silver and Gold bonuses of $88,600 and VOBIS Platinum vouchers of $60,000 from 3 wins and 3 placings across his 10-start season.
For a second time, Toronado claimed the prestigious IRT Champion Victorian Sire. Standing at Swettenham Stud, Toronado has enjoyed another wonderful season with his progeny consistently producing results on the track across Australasia, continuing his reputation as one of Victoria’s premier sires.
Racing Victoria VOBIS Sire of the Year was won by Darley Northwood shuttle stallion, Blue Point. Over the 12 months, the progeny of Blue Point collected more than $732k in VOBIS Silver, VOBIS Gold bonuses and VOBIS Platinum vouchers. Godolphin was also the winner of the Racing Victoria VOBIS Nominator of the Year, headlined by Steel Move winning both the VOBIS Gold Stockade and VOBIS Gold Carat.
Another standout award winner was dual Group 1 winner Tentyris, who was crowned the Magic Millions Champion Victorian Bred 3YO, impressing with his blistering speed down the Flemington straight on two occasions.
With numerous stakes winners across the country, Yulong Stud was recognised as the Kentucky Equine Research & BARASTOC Champion Victorian Breeder. Their season winners included Treasurethe Moment, Grand Prairie, Miraval Rose, Hedged, Alibaba, Cherry Bomshell, McWoody, and Brave Monarch.
Following last year’s victory, Lindsay Park’s training trio Ben, Will & JD Hayes were again awarded the Racing Victoria VOBIS Trainer of the Year. Several Lindsay Park-trained horses, including Kindhearted, Apulia and Hydrobomb, took home lucrative VOBIS bonuses in addition to prizemoney, thanks to the trainers’ smart race programming.
This year’s Inglis Champion Victorian Bred 2YO was awarded to promising juvenile and G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner, Streisand. The filly was bred by Don and Elizabeth Byrne of Eldon Park Stud by the late Magnus.
The prestigious Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association Rising Star Award was this year bestowed on Matt Taylor. As the Stallion Manager at Rosemont, Matt plays an instrumental role in growing the stallion roster at Rosemont. He is a great teacher and mentor to many young staff at the farm and has the utmost respect from those who have worked under him.
In what can only be described as a rare triple dead heat, the 2026 Inglis Service to the Industry Award was awarded to three worthy industry participants - Bucklee Farm’s Leeanne Smith, and Peter and Pauline Liston of Three Bridges Thoroughbreds. Each with decades of industry experience and dedication to their own boutique operations, Leeanne and the Listons were honoured for their invaluable lifetime contribution to Victoria’s breeding industry.
Capping off an emotional season for her owner Janice McKenna, La Gazelle, the deceased dam of Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours, won the Avenel Equine Hospital Champion Victorian Broodmare.
Having made an impressive start at stud with his emerging first crop of runners, including Listed winner Eternal Warrior, it was Rosemont Stud’s Extreme Warrior who received this year’s Sportsbet Champion Victorian First Season Sire.
Full list of award winners –
- Racing Victoria VOBIS Nominator of the Year - Godolphin
- Racing Victoria VOBIS Sire of the Year - Blue Point
- Racing Victoria VOBIS Trainer of the Year - Ben, Will & JD Hayes
- Racing Victoria VOBIS Horse of the Year - Flying Done
- Inglis Champion Victorian Bred 2YO - Streisand
- Magic Millions Champion Victorian Bred 3YO - Tentyris
- Breednet Champion Victorian Bred Racehorse - Half Yours
- Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association Rising Star Award - Matt Taylor
- Inglis Service to the Industry Award - Leeanne Smith; Peter & Pauline Liston
- Kentucky Equine Research & BARASTOC Champion Victorian Breeder - Yulong Investments
- Avenel Equine Hospital Champion Victorian Broodmare - La Gazelle
- Yulong Stud Leading Victorian Small Breeder – Janice McKenna
- Sportsbet Champion Victorian First Season Sire - Extreme Warrior
- IRT Champion Victorian Sire - Toronado
