Racing salutes its high achievers

CRANBOURNE’s thoroughbred racing industry celebrated the successes of the 2014/15 season at the inaugural Chandler Macleod Cranbourne Racing Industry Awards (CRIAs) on Saturday night.
About 300 local racing participants packed the Cranbourne Racing Centre for the awards night, which was hosted by Channel 7 racing commentator and former champion jockey Simon Marshall.
One of the stars of the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, Ken Keys-trained Rich Enuff, was crowned the Cranbourne Horse of the Year from an equally impressive group of finalists.
The exciting colt won the 2014 Listed McKenzie Stakes, Group 2 Danehill Stakes and Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude in a row before narrowly going down by a neck to Shooting To Win in the $1 million Caulfield Guineas.
Eric Musgrove-trained Thubiaan was announced the winner of the Cranbourne Jumper of the Year, in recognition of his wins in the Von Doussa, Brierly and Australian Steeplechase features.
Robbie Griffiths took out the Cranbourne Trainer of the Year after finishing on 102 wins for the season – almost double that of any other local trainer – and another 205 minor placings.
Trevor Rodgers won the Picnic Trainer of the Year and Pat Hyland’s star mare Bonaria was inducted into the Cranbourne Group 1 Club after her upset victory in the $500,000 Myer Classic.
The 2014/15 Chandler Macleod Cranbourne Premierships, for performances on the home track, were also awarded on the night.
Training duo David Hayes and Tom Dabernig finished on top in the Trainers Premiership with 15 wins on the course, Michael Walker dominated the Jockeys Premiership with 18 wins and Beau Mertens took out the Apprentices Jockeys Premiership with six wins.
There were three special achievement awards presented to Kim Mayberry for most winners from less than 50 professional starters, Enver Jusofovic for most winners from less than 100 professional starters and Nikki Burke for most winners from between 101 and 200 starters.
Cranbourne Turf Club CEO Neil Bainbridge said the first CRIAs were a huge success and they looked forward to making them an annual event.
“We had great support from local racing participants who had a great night celebrating what was a successful season for the Cranbourne Racing Industry,” he said.
“During the 2014/15 season, 149 licensed Cranbourne trainers had a starter.
“The Cranbourne Training Complex produced 6896 starters on Victorian tracks – the highest number from any training complex in the state, and representing 17 per cent of all starters at Victorian race meetings.
“We had 630 winners for the season and 1369 minor placings, collecting a combined total of $18.1 million in Victorian prize-money.
“These are great figures and a testament to the talent, hard work and passion of all those involved in thoroughbred racing locally.”