Media Award was unbeaten in two appearances this preparation going into the Oaks and completed a whirlwind rise to the top with a supreme performance to dent a number of reputations with an unconventional, but successful, path to the Oaks.
The filly placed in two of her three outings in her initial preparation and following a break she broke her maiden at Kyneton before further success in a BM64 H. at Geelong. While the majority didn’t consider that Oaks-winning form, Calthorpe remained a believer.
“I took her to the Colac jump-outs during COVID and then she missed the start (on debut) at Wangaratta by about 15l and got beaten 10l, but she ran super sectionals,” he said. “I said to the owners, 'I know it’s hard to believe, but you’ve got a very good horse here'.
“I said to the owners, 'I know it’s hard to believe, but you’ve got a very good horse (Media Award) here'.” – Chris Calthorpe
“She ran second at Echuca and I said to them you’ve got an Oaks filly, I know it may have been a bit hard to believe. I gave her one more run at Geelong and it was a Heavy 9 and she got through it without handling it and then gave her a spell.”
Media Award returned to win two on the bounce before heading to Morphettville to realise Calthorpe’s dream and he was grateful to the owners for keeping the faith with him.
Chris Calthorpe
“It’s unbelievable and she’s just a very special horse. Damien Thornton had ridden her, Damien Oliver had ridden her and they all loved her - I don’t ride, but I love her,” he said.
“I’m just so grateful to Mark Arrowsmith, who has given me a lot of horses and the ownership group. It’s easy to get a horse like her and take her off a small trainer and give her to a big trainer, but they have stuck by me.
“It’s easy to get a horse like her (Media Award) and take her off a small trainer and give her to a big trainer, but they have stuck by me.” – Chris Calthorpe
“When I met the boys for the first time from the Lamington Football Club, I said you must have thought I was a dick to want to go to the Australasian Oaks.
“They said you haven’t lied to us yet and been honest with us and upfront from day one, so I’m over the moon.
"This is bigger than Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.”
Media Award settled well back in the field on Saturday before picking up ground 800 metres from home and she produced a resolute finish to account for Personal (Fastnet Rock) and Ripper Rita (Street Boss {USA}).
The favourite Steinem (GB) (Frankel {GB}) dropped out to finish ninth while the previously unbeaten Tasmanian filly Hela (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) made the running, but was soon done with and tailed the field home.
“The support I’ve had from people inside of Geelong and outside of Geelong has been phenomenal,” Calthorpe said. “It’s going to be a big night I’ll tell you and I’ve got to get home somehow tomorrow.”
Staying tight-lipped
He has future plans for Media Award, but was reluctant to divulge them for the filly who was bred by Bowness Stud and sold at the Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale for $5000.
“I have thought about it and spoken to Mark and we know what we want to do,” Calthorpe said.
Media Award was ably-handled by Luke Nolen, who was thrilled for not only himself, but to provide Calthorpe with his first Group 1 winner.
“It’s terrific and I’m not normally an emotional person, but after the post I gave out a cheer. It’s wonderful to ride someone’s first and you never forget your first or last and that’s in all facets of life,” Nolen said.
"It’s wonderful to ride someone’s first and you never forget your first or last and that’s in all facets of life." - Luke Nolen
“I'm really pleased to be able to do it. It worked out perfectly and I was able to find the back of Ripper Rita and Jamie Mott gave her a great ride.
“I felt like I had plenty to offer and she showed plenty of resilience to win it, a very good effort. Chris had plenty of faith in her and he was rewarded.”
Luke Nolen
