Australian Horse of the Year Finalists Announced

Tara Madgwick - Friday Aug 7

The Australian Horse of the Year award is decided by votes collated from the principal race clubs around the nation and the racing media and will be presented as part of the NSW Racehorse Owners Association's Racing's Night of Champions to be held at Royal Randwick on Thursday, August 27.

Racing Australia's chief executive Paul Eriksson said: "On behalf of Racing Australia we are delighted to be sharing the stage with Racing's Night of Champions."

"The eight national equine categories including the Australian Racehorse of the Year have been very hotly contested after a phenomenal racing season and we are very much looking forward to this awards ceremony to celebrate the greats of our sport,'' Eriksson said.

Advertisement

Sheza Alibi is an obvious winner of the Champion 3YO Filly title - image Bradleyphotos.com.au

There will be plenty of discussion on who should be winning these awards following a vintage season packed with highlights although a couple of categories are clear cut – Sheza Alibi for Champion 3YO Filly and Half Yours for Champion Stayer.

Australian Racehorse of the Year Finalists for 2025/2026
CHAMPION 2YO	CHAMPION 3YO FILLY
Campione D'Italia Fireball Guest House Streisand Tron Bolt	Apocalyptic Marhoona Ohope Wins Sheza Alibi Tempted
CHAMPION 3YO COLT/GELDING	CHAMPION SPRINTER
Autumn Boy Beiwacht Green Spaces Observer Tentyris	Autumn Glow Jigsaw Joliestar Tempted Tentyris
CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE	CHAMPION STAYER
Aeliana Autumn Glow Sheza Alibi Sir Delius Via Sistina	Aeliana Changingoftheguard Dubai Honour Half Yours Royal Supremacy
CHAMPION JUMPER	BART CUMMINGS AWARD - GROUP 1 TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Highland Blaze Instigator Mr Waterville Sing For Peace Stern Idol	Chris Waller
	GROUP 1 JOCKEY OF THE YEAR AWARD
	James McDonald
	CHAMPION SIRE OF THE YEAR AWARD
	Snitzel

Advertisment

More Reading...

Inglis Digital Purchase Iron Hawk to Tackle G3 TAB Mile

Harness racing trainer Barry Purdon bought Iron Hawk last year with New Zealand Cup Week in mind, and now the moment has arrived, with the stakes performer set to tackle the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.

G1 Aussie Pedigree Watch –Newly Minted

Pedigree does matter if you want to be winning races longer than 1200m, although in an interesting twist a colt bred on face value for speed is in fact from the family of Zabeel.

Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 10

Here is the full list of 16 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

Unraced First Season Sires Trial Report

It’s been a pretty steady start to spring in terms of 2YO races and we are still waiting to see a first season sire post a winner, but there has been action aplenty at the trials which would indicate the pre-Christmas period is set to ignite.

Southern Highlands Thoroughbred Week is Out of the Gate!

Celebrating 140 years of racing and thoroughbred culture, Southern Highlands Thoroughbred Week presented by GROW Southern Highlands will span three weekends, from 19th November to 6th December.

Racing Industry Mourns Much Loved Izzy Neale

The thoroughbred racing industry is devastated tonight following news that apprentice jockey Izzy Neale, aged 22, has tragically died as the result of a race fall at Warren on Sunday.

Wild Ruler Winner Impressive at Warwick Farm

Annabel and Rob Archibald have high hopes for Wild Ruler 3YO Priory Park, who confirmed their good opinion of him when scoring a dominant win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday with James McDonald in the saddle.

Remembering Northerly – The Greatest Caulfield Cup Winner This Century

It's Caulfield Cup week, and what better moment to revisit the life and times of one of the greatest - if not the greatest - Caulfield Cup winner of the modern era.

Super Seth 3YO Leads Waller First Four in $100,000 Super Maiden

The $100,000 Super Maiden (1400m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday delivered a first four for the Chris Waller stable with victory going to the well backed favourite Quarterback, who has a half-brother to be offered at the NZB Ready to Run Sale next week.

Haras d'Etreham Set Fee for Hotazhell

Triple Group I winner Hotazhell will begin his stallion career at Haras d'Etreham in France at a fee of €15,000 next year before then shuttling to Widden Stud in Australia.