Image courtesy of Racing NSW
Racing Australia has announced the nominees for the prestigious 2025/26 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards.
The spectacular line up of finalists to take out the top award “Australian Racehorse of the Year” contains many of last season’s outstanding performers; Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}), Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), and Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Hosted by the NSW Racehorse Owners Association (NSWROA), in conjunction with Racing NSW, Racing’s Night of Champions will acknowledge equine, training and riding excellence not only in New South Wales, but across Australia during the 2025/26 Racing season.
This year’s awards will be held on Thursday, 27 August, at The Winx Stand ballroom at Royal Randwick.
Paul Eriksson | Image courtesy of TAS Racing
Racing Australia’s Chief Executive Mr 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”.
The Racehorse of the Year awards acknowledge performances on Australian racecourses, as well as international performances by Australian-trained horses for the period from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026.
Contenders for the Champion Two-Year-Old category include G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Guest House (Home Affairs), G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner and Golden Slipper runner-up Streisand (Magnus), and Group 1 winners Campione D’Italia (Snitzel), Fireball (Snitzel), and Tron Bolt (Toroando {Ire}) - all standouts in their own right in the juveniles.
Guest House | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
In the Champion 3YO Colt and Gelding category, G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) is up against Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) who had outstanding wins in the G1 Lightning Stakes and G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, Beiwacht (Bivouac), winner of the G1 All Aged Stakes and G1 Golden Rose, and Derby heroes Green Spaces (Street Boss {USA}) (G1 Australian Derby) and Observer (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) (G1 VRC Derby).
The Three-Year-Old Filly category features an elite line up with G1 Doncaster Mile winner Sheza Alibi who is up against G1 Surround Stakes winner and G1 Everest runner-up Tempted (Street Boss {USA}), G1 Australian Oaks winner Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), G1 Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice), and G1 The Galaxy winner Marhoona (Snitzel).
Champion Middle Distance finalists showcase the cream of Australian Racing. The likes of world class Via Sistina, who claimed back-to-back victories in the G1 Cox Plate, super star mare Autumn Glow, Sheza Alibi, Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), and crowd favourite Sir Delius with his wins in the G1 Underwood Stakes and G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Via Sistina (Ire) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Autumn Glow, Tentyris and Tempted are in multiple categories with the trio among the nominations for Champion Sprinter alongside G1 TJ Smith Stakes and G1 Canterbury Stakes winner Joliestar (Zoustar), and Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain), who won seven races in succession including the G1 Railway Stakes in New Zealand and the G1 William Reid Stakes.
Fighting it out for the Champion Stayer will be G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours, Aeliana, Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai), and Royal Supremacy (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).
The competition is also fierce for the Champion Jumper Award. Can the Ciaron Maher-trained Stern Idol (Ire) (Ravens Pass {USA}) claim the title for a fourth year? Hot on his heels is Instigator (Ger) (Nayef {USA}), with Mr Waterville (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Highland Blaze (Highland Reel {Ire}), and Sing For Peace (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) also in the mix.
Stern Idol (Ire) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
In addition to our equine stars, Chris Waller has clinched - for the 14th consecutive year - the title of Champion Group 1 Trainer for the season with his record-breaking 22 Group 1 wins.
Superstar jockey James McDonald’s phenomenal season included a record 17 Australian Group 1 wins to ensure he takes out the title of Champion Group 1 Jockey for the sixth straight year.
The great son of Redoute’s Choice, Snitzel has been crowned Champion Sire for the fifth time. Awarded posthumously, Snitzel’s progeny earnt a grand total of $25.9 million in the season with his daughters Lazzura and Marhoona standouts while he sired two Group 1-winning colts, Campione D’Italia (G1 Sires' Produce Stakes) and Fireball (G1 Champagne Stakes).
