Rewarding dedication and hard work Wednesday, 17 June, 7.30pm AEST
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Rewarding dedication
and hard work
Wednesday, 17 June,
7.30pm AEST
Home of the Darley Stallions
Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 1
WELCOME SPONSOR’S MESSAGE
On behalf of Racing Australia and As we all know, the hard work and On behalf of Godolphin, we are or prepping yearlings, to those in
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, we commitment of staff is the cornerstone delighted to sponsor the Stud & training yards or ancillary services, and
welcome you to the sixth Australian of our industry. Without that, Australia Stable Staff Awards for the sixth year everyone in between who plays a part
Stud & Stable Staff Awards ceremony, would not be regarded as a global in Australia. Racing and breeding are in delivering our great sport to the
supported by Godolphin. leader in thoroughbred racing and the lifeblood of many communities in public. These Awards honour the
breeding. Australia, and the way all have worked behind-the-scenes stars of our industry
Although this ceremony is being staged
together through Covid-19 to ensure and bring deserved recognition and
online in 2020, the dedication to the We would also like to extend our
we, as an industry, continue has been reward to the people who make an
industry remains unaltered and it gratitude to the judges for the huge
nothing short of remarkable. extraordinary commitment to our
gives us great pleasure, in particular, to part they have played in adjudicating
horses and this sport.
congratulate the awards f inalists: Simon and selecting the winners in each Godolphin is a global sponsor of these
Johnson, Michael Shepherdson, Brett category. Awards which are now hosted in the I’d like to thank Racing Australia and
Killion, Michael Hurry, Chris Cooper, UK, Ireland, France, America and here Thoroughbred Breeders Australia
And a special thank you to His Highness
Martin Bruechert, Mandy Radecker, in Australia. In 2020, we had a record for their enthusiasm, support and
Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin
Wendy Smith, Sarah Moran, Tetsuhito number of nominations and the sponsorship of the Australian Awards.
for their continued support of the
Hirose, Jade Willis, Liz Andriske, Kelly standard of individuals in all categories More specif ically, thank you to the
Australian racing and breeding industry,
Colledge and Alyssa Pickels. We wish was of the highest calibre, giving the teams at those organisations for their
particularly through these Awards. We
each of you good luck. judges a tough task in choosing the support over the past few months in
look forward to this event continuing for
winners for each category. These Awards making sure these Awards happened.
In addition, we are delighted to many years to come as the pinnacle of
are arguably the premier staff awards Thanks also to the members of the
acknowledge board members and staff awards in our industry.
in Australian racing and breeding, and shortlisting and judging panels for
representatives f rom Racing Australia,
In closing, we wish all the winners and we are proud to join with other leading their diligent work in selecting the
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia
runners-up the very best for the future. organisations within our industry to f inalists and, ultimately, the winners.
and f rom our Award sponsors,
You should all be very proud to be a bring these to you year in, year out. Our Award sponsors have also been
Magic Millions, Melbourne Racing
f inalist. fantastic, so thanks to: Magic Millions,
Club Foundation and the Australian When a horse wins at the highest
Melbourne Racing Club Foundation,
Turf Club. Greg Nichols level, or a maiden in the country, we
Australian Turf Club and Sky Racing
Chairman all know that is just part of the story.
Our thanks go to all those in the channel, for their support of the 2020
Before passing the winning line, there
various sectors of Australian racing and Stud & Stable Staff Awards.
have been countless hours of hard
breeding who put forward nominations.
work, often in tough conditions, all Congratulations to all the f inalists
A record 168 nominations were received
Tom Reilly carried out by those who are generally and winners.
– f rom all over the country and f rom
Chief Executive Off icer unrecognised beyond their own studs
the widest-ever range of training Vin Cox
and yards.
establishments, studs and other Managing Director (Australia)
organisations that support and The aim of these Awards is to celebrate
maintain an industry that is one those unsung heroes – f rom those
of Australia’s largest. working on stud farms foaling down
Home of the Darley Stallions
2 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 3
Leadership
AUSTRALIAN
STUD & STABLE STAFF AWARDS
2020 FINALISTS
Simon Johnson Michael
Godolphin Shepherdson
McEvoy-Mitchell Racing
Administration Dedication to
and Ancillary Racing
Services SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
Sarah Moran Tetsuhito Hirose Michael Hurry Brett Killion
Griff iths Racing IRT Victoria Racing Club Chris Waller Racing
Dedication to Thoroughbred
Breeding Care and Welfare
SPONSORED BY
Martin Bruechert Chris Cooper Jade Willis Liz Andriske
Coolmore Godolphin JW Equestrian Spare One
Thoroughbreds
Horsemanship Newcomer
Mandy Radecker Wendy Smith Kelly Colledge Alyssa Pickels
Michael Lakey Blue Gum Farm Brenden Mackay Kitchwin Hills
4 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 5
ADMINISTRATION AND ANCILLARY An Award to an individual staff member who works in an
administration role on a stud or in a racing yard or services ancillary
SERVICES to racing or breeding (such as Race Club administrators and staff,
stud or stable administration staff, farm, garden and maintenance
staff). Must demonstrate exceptional skills, loyalty or some
SPONSORED BY achievement that has added value to their employer’s business
and directly or indirectly to industry standards.
PRIZE: Trophy and $10,000 to the winner, with $3,000 to the employer
to share among staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.
Administration and Ancillary Services “I was out of business for quite a while So it was, that against his family’s wishes,
finalists Sarah Moran and Tetsuhito and during that time Sarah proved he came to Australia in 1995 with no
Hirose, not surprisingly, come from vastly vital in keeping the business afloat,” horse skills and a distinct lack of English.
different backgrounds. And their roles in Griffiths said.
Hiro initially gravitated to the Hunter
the racing industry are similarly diverse.
“Sarah had always been a keen and Valley where he worked at any job that
But both are vitally responsible in capable worker, always willing to turn would help him gain knowledge. He was
ensuring their businesses run smoothly her hand to whatever was needed. a jackaroo, float driver, feed man, horse
and efficiently. But during my illness we all realised breaker, and just about everything else,
the level of loyalty and devotion she was until he joined Gerald Ryan when he was
For Moran, the personal assistant to
capable of. It was incredible. For her to based on the Queensland Gold Coast.
Victorian trainer Robbie Griffiths, her job
win an award such as this would be a
is one that she came to as something of That job eventually led, in 2006, to
wonderful validation of a young woman’s
a novice 10 years ago, and one she has an introduction to equine transport
dedication to this industry.”
developed into a small business in its company IRT. Since then, his standing in
own right. For her part, Moran is simply delighted the company has been on a steep incline.
SARAH MORAN to be a candidate. “I’m humbled and From groom to his present position
After working in a variety of racing-
GRIFFITHS RACING excited. Like most people, I do what I can as Operations Co-ordinator, Hiro has
related jobs, including as a guide at the
in my job and for that to be recognised displayed a rare ability to go beyond the
Victorian Racing Museum and in the
is an absolute honour,” she said. parameters of an already complex job.
office of trainer Robbie Laing, Moran
joined the Griffiths team in 2010 as an Tetsuhito Hirose – “Hiro” – came to racing Among his achievements was the
office assistant. via an unorthodox path. development of a special relationship
with the Japan Racing Association that
Over the next few years she took A university graduate in Japan where
proved instrumental in cutting through
on additional tasks, such as doing his first intention was to get into sports
the red tape and solving quarantine
acceptances, booking jockeys, sending management, Hiro played top-level
issues to get the 2019 Cox Plate winner
updates to owners, doing form analysis, basketball in his home country, but was
Lys Gracieux to Melbourne.
marketing the yearlings her boss bought, always looking for something different.
organising the stable’s social media He also played a vital role in getting
“I’d never really touched a horse, I was
accounts and helping create a stable the Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues
just hanging over the fence at the
magazine. and runner-up Pop Rock to the post at
racecourse,” he said.
Flemington in 2006.
But it was in the past two years that
“I knew there was a big racing industry
Moran emerged as an even more vital IRT Chairman Quentin Wallace, Hiro’s
in America and Europe, but when I saw
link in the Griffiths operation. nominator, summed him up: “Hiro’s
horses like Horlicks and Better Loosen
journey is a wonderful embodiment
TETSUHITO HIROSE In 2019, Griffiths was diagnosed with a Up win the Japan Cup, I realised it must
of how so many in the horse industry
IRT brain aneurism and underwent major also be pretty big in Australia and New
dedicate their lives to following their
surgery last August. Zealand.”
hearts and indulging their passion for
the betterment of us all.”
6 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 7
DEDICATION TO BREEDING An Award to an individual staff member who has shown talent in
thoroughbred breeding horsemanship as well as consistency and
SPONSORED BY reliability in a stud role. Must have at least f ive years’ service in the
breeding industry and have been pivotal in his or her employer’s
success.
PRIZE: Trophy and $10,000 to the winner, with $3,000 to the employer
to share among staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.
Between them, Martin Bruechert In previous roles he had 350 mares under Cooper’s appreciation for the life
and Chris Cooper have devoted more his care at Arrowfield, looking after each Woodlands has given him is reciprocated
than 60 years to the thoroughbred of them personally from head to tail. in full.
breeding industry, an effort that more
He also accompanied Danehill back to His nominator, the farm’s Assistant
than qualifies them as finalists in the
Coolmore in Ireland in 1994 and worked Manager Simon Johnson, regards Cooper
Dedication to Breeding category.
the season at the farm. as a man of “absolute dedication” that is
But there is much more than long demonstrated every day.
Bruechert’s place among the final two
service to support the credentials of
in the Dedication to Breeding category “It’s normal to see Chris at work at
the two men who both work on Hunter
of the SSSA is greeted with grace and first light every day and you’ll find him
Valley farms, Bruechert at Coolmore and
gratitude. driving through the paddocks each
Cooper at Godolphin’s broodmare base,
evening just before dark checking on
Woodlands. “I can’t thank the organisers enough
his mares,” Johnson said.
for this sort of recognition. So many
Bruechert’s career began at Lindsay
people working on farms and in stables “He treats the place as he would if it
Park in South Australia in 1985 and has
are never noticed, so it’s great when it were his own and the mares are like
MARTIN BRUECHERT included stints at Arrowfield, Coolmore
happens,” he said. his own family.”
COOLMORE in Ireland, Darley’s Kelvinside stud,
The Pines Stud in Victoria, Rheinwood Chris Cooper’s dedication to his industry Among that “family” are the mares who
Pastoral, Cressfield and, currently, at is unquestionable. produce the horses that Godolphin races,
Coolmore’s Australian farm at Jerry’s as well as the retired broodmares like
He first worked at Woodlands when
Plains where he’s spent the past six 32-year-old Excited Angel, a mare who
the farm was owned by the Ingham
years. won 12 races and produced nine winners,
brothers and apart from a season spent
and Mnemosyne, a G1 winner herself and
His SSSA nominator, Coolmore colleague at Widden Stud, he has been at the farm
the mother of G1 winner Impending.
Max Nudd, described Bruechert as since 1994.
“the consummate horseman”. “Chris’s love for the mares and his
To Cooper, the opportunity to work with
attention to detail has saved many lives.
“Martin handles all situations on the one of the country’s finest broodmare
Everything he does is about caring for
farm, he’s a brilliant pedigree analyst, bands is one thing, but to do so at
them and it is reflected in our broodmare
a generous mentor, he has a great Woodlands makes it all the more special.
band,” Johnson said.
understanding of a mare’s reproductive
“The entire atmosphere of the place is
cycle. There is hardly a role he couldn’t
incredible. You see it in the reaction of
fill,” Nudd said.
people who come and visit, they are
The position he occupies at Coolmore amazed,” he said.
today is as a supervisor, weaning all
CHRIS COOPER “For me it is more special because my
the farm’s foals and teaching them the
GODOLPHIN wife and I have raised two kids here.
basics of walking, leading and handling.
It’s much more than a place to work,
it’s in our souls.”
8 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 9
HORSEMANSHIP An Award to an individual staff member who has shown talent for
horsemanship, consistency and reliability in or out of the saddle. Must
include an aff inity with horses and give priority to animal welfare.
Must demonstrate a degree of success with the thoroughbred,
whether it be in breeding, or racing or both, that has been borne out
of their particular skill set.
PRIZE: Trophy and $10,000 to the winner, with $3,000 to the employer
to share among staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.
Mandy Radecker and Wendy Smith Smith, who also gives her to time to local She also finished second in that season’s
rank as two of the finest horsewomen in Riding for the Disabled groups, puts her Brisbane metropolitan apprentices’
Australia. relationship with her horses down to championship, a title she won the
admiration and love. following year when she was named the
They also add abundant proof to the
Ken Russell Queensland Apprentice of
theory that Australian racing and “You do the work for the love of the
the Year.
breeding would suffer badly if not for all horses,” she said.
of those whose talents and skills are so Radecker retired from race riding in
While she attributes the horses
rarely celebrated. 2012, landing a winner in her last ride,
themselves for teaching her most of
and has since carved out a new life as
Smith is the Yearling Manager at Blue what she knows, Smith also accepts that
a trackwork rider who specialises in
Gum Farm, the Victorian stud where she has one vital quality.
turning problem horses around.
she has worked for the past eight years,
“I’m not in a bad mood very often. I think
having begun working with dressage “As a kid, the only horses we had at
they like that.”
and show horses in 1979. home to ride were the ones other people
Mandy Radecker’s main role is head were having trouble with, so I suppose I
She is also a veterinary nurse and in
MANDY RADECKER trackwork rider for Brisbane trainer got a feel for them,” she said.
charge of post-natal care of Blue
MICHAEL LAKEY Michael Lakey. But there is far more to
Gum’s foals. “My approach now is that jockeys
the former champion apprentice jockey.
have a lot of split-second decisions to
Smith’s nominator, Patti Campbell,
Radecker began her life in racing as a make so it’s going to be a lot better for
describes her as possessing “unlimited
trainee stablehand with Gypmie trainer them if their horses aren’t likely to be
determination, thorough reliability and
Kaye Hill while she was in Year 12. unpredictable.
unsurpassed knowledge and skills”.
Having taken to the game with “I know what it’s like, so I want to make
“Wendy has a vast history of working
considerable passion, she began an their job easier.”
with horses and today stands just as
apprenticeship to prominent Brisbane
motivated, committed and passionate as While she is already a celebrated
trainer Pat Duff in 2004, only to have her
she always has,” Campbell said. horsewoman, Radecker said that
soaring career jeopardised when she
becoming an SSSA finalist was a
Smith is credited with being suffered shocking injuries in a race fall in
tremendous thrill.
instrumental in Blue Gum’s impressive April of that year.
yearling sale results over the past six “I was shocked and speechless when I
With a broken neck, broken pelvis and
years, a period in which the farm has was told I was in the last five. To now be
fractured hip, her racing future looked
always been among the top three one of the final two is such an honour,”
to be in the balance, but Radecker
vendors at the Inglis Premier Sale, she said.
was back in the saddle before the end
finishing on top of the table three times.
of the season and was duly crowned As well as her work on the training track,
WENDY SMITH
“These results don’t occur without Queensland’s leading provincial Radecker has served as President of
BLUE GUM FARM
great effort, commitment and personal apprentice. the Bramble Bay Pony Club, is a horse
sacrifice, and Wendy delivers all of that,” breaker and, according to her boss, “the
Campbell said. best horsewoman I’ve ever seen”.
10 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 11
LEADERSHIP An Award to an individual staff member in a managerial or
supervisory role in a stud or stable, who has displayed leadership
qualities – in particular, quality people management, mentoring
and support of staff, attention to workplace health and safety,
commitment to continuous improvement and displaying good
business acumen.
PRIZE: Trophy and $10,000 to the winner, with $3,000 to the employer
to share among staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.
As in most industries, leadership in people we have at Godolphin and at Typical of all nominees, Shepherdson
thoroughbred racing and breeding is a Woodlands. emphasises that it is the entire staff,
quality that can’t always be bought or not just their leader, who deserves
“But the greatest thing in the job for
taught. praise and reward.
me is to work with such an outstanding
In the case of this year’s SSSA finalists group whose passion and dedication is “The people Tony employs are some of
Simon Johnson and Michael unlimited. I can’t thank them enough the best in the business and to be able
Shepherdson, it has come from within, for what they do for me. to give them leadership and direction is
to emerge in what seems an endless a privilege,” he said.
“These Awards recognise not so much
supply.
the people like me, but all of those who “Winning awards is definitely not
Johnson is the Assistant Stud Manager give so much to ensure the farm and something you set out to do. But when
at Woodlands, the Hunter Valley home the industry are successful.” it happens, it’s deeply appreciated.
of Godolphin’s broodmare band and is
Like Johnson, Mick Shepherdson is also “This is very exciting for my entire family
a finalist in the Leadership category for
a previous SSSA finalist, having been and I can’t thank our staff, Godolphin,
the second time, having been nominated
runner-up in the Dedication to Racing the TBA and Racing Australia enough.”
SIMON JOHNSON on each occasion by colleague Kylie Mills
section in 2019. His boss, leading South
GODOLPHIN who describes him as “the person these
Australian trainer Tony McEvoy, is again
Awards were created for”.
generous in his praise for his Melbourne
“Simon is a motivator who is constantly foreman.
leading his team toward excellence,
“My Flemington stable has doubled in
fostering their careers and always
size in each of the past two years and
encouraging.”
Michael has made the entire process
Johnson grew up with horses in South seamless,” McEvoy said.
Australia and has studied a wide range
“Our accomplishments in Victoria are
of industry subjects at TAFE and
a direct reflection of his dedication.”
university.
Shepherdson joined the McEvoy-
He sees it as his duty to pass on whatever
Mitchell racing team some eight years
he can to his staff.
ago in Adelaide where he quickly rose
“We have an obligation to give everyone to the position of foreman, moving to
who comes into the industry, and who Melbourne with the establishment of
shows a willingness to learn, the the Flemington stable.
opportunity to advance themselves,”
For McEvoy, Shepherdson is an essential
MICHAEL SHEPHERDSON Johnson said.
part of a system that has produced
MCEVOY-MITCHELL RACING
“I get tremendous satisfaction from exceptional results.
sharing what I know with the great
12 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 13
DEDICATION TO RACING An Award to an individual staff member who has shown talent for
horsemanship in the racing f ield, and consistency and reliability in a
SPONSORED BY racing role. Must have at least f ive years’ service in the racing industry
and must have been pivotal in his or her employer’s success.
PRIZE: Trophy and $10,000 to the winner, with $3,000 to the employer
to share among staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.
Dedication is a powerful theme “And the memory of some of the horses role as training track supervisor at
possessed by every nominee in every I’ve looked after will always be with me.” Flemington.
category of the Stud & Stable Staff
Killion stayed with Waterhouse for And for much of the time he also worked
Awards, and in Michael Hurry and Brett
more than 15 years during which time as an aircraft engineer at Ansett.
“Lofty” Killion it is particularly well-
he worked with a man who he regards
defined. Hurry was nominated for the Awards
as one of his greatest mentors, “Spider”
by his sister Suzie who has a lifetime
Both men have been in the industry Barker.
knowledge of her brother’s “get in,
since they were boys, and both remain
“Spider was a long-time foreman with can-do attitude to everything he does”.
as devoted as ever.
Tommy Smith and stayed on with Gai.
“Michael’s loyalty to the racing industry
Killion began his working association He’d seen it all and taught me things
means a work schedule that doesn’t fit
with horseracing in 1996 when he and gave me advice that still helps me
a nine-to-five week,” she said.
joined the Gai Waterhouse stable at through every day,” he said.
Randwick as a strapper and it continues “His devotion to all things racing has
“Ever since then, I’ve learned from
today as the foreman at Chris Waller’s meant a lot of disruption to his life.”
the best. There’s been the pure
MICHAEL HURRY Queensland stable on the Gold Coast.
horsemanship of John Thompson, Along with the various mishaps and
VICTORIA RACING CLUB
In between, he has worked for such the work ethic of Gai Waterhouse, the accidents that can be a part of working
notable trainers as John Thompson and sharpness of John O’Shea’s mind and closely with horses, Hurry also endured
John O’Shea and he guided Godolphin’s Chris Waller’s methodical search for cancer in 2015 which caused a revision of
G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner perfection.” his duties with the Victoria Racing Club.
Impending through some difficult days
And he learned well. As his nominator In his 40th year with the VRC and his
in the lead-up to what was a crowning
for the SSSA, Reg Fleming, said: “Lofty 50th in the business, Hurry remains
moment in the career of his trainer,
is honest, hard-working and ever-loyal the supervisor of the Flemington
Darren Beadman.
– and come what may, the horse always training tracks where he applies his vast
For Killion, dedication to his horses has comes first with him.” knowledge to ensuring the safety of
always been his motivation. But the horses, riders and stable staff.
“He was nominated for three categories
people he has met and learned from
of the Awards and he deserves every
over the past 25 years have also made
one of them.”
racing a lifelong passion.
Mick Hurry’s racing life began as a
“I love it all. The characters, horses and
five-year-old wandering around
humans, they are what keeps me in the
Flemington racecourse with his father
game,” Killion said.
and has continued for more than half
BRETT KILLION “Some of my best friends are people a century.
CHRIS WALLER RACING I met at Gai’s on my first day working
It has encompassed everything from
there.
stablehand to trackwork rider to barrier
attendant to clerk of scales to his current
14 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 15
THOROUGHBRED CARE An Award to an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to the
care and welfare of thoroughbreds who are not actively racing, and/or
AND WELFARE created a greater awareness, passion and care for the thoroughbred
horse in its second/alternate career (breeding, breaking, pre- and post-
racing career, re-homing, retraining, providing a comfortable retirement,
etc). These may be, for example, a quiet achiever, paid or volunteer in
retraining or re-homing of the thoroughbred.
PRIZE: Trophy and $10,000 to the winner, with $3,000 to the employer
to share among staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.
In an area of the industry that is both “I always loved thoroughbreds and I Operating these days as Spare One
sensitive and essential, Jade Willis and decided that if I was going to do this, Thoroughbreds, she provides an
Liz Andriske fill a role that can never I would do it properly.” option for owners and trainers to
be supported too strongly. bypass the sales.
That meant buying a 40-acre property
Willis and Andriske, the finalists in to train and condition the horses she “I originally got most of my horses from
the Thoroughbred Care and Welfare acquires from their previous owners the sales, but now trainers and owners
category, give time, money and and trainers. are sending them straight to me and
boundless energy to provide new other rehomers around the country,”
And Willis’s ambitions for old racehorses
lives for as many former racehorses Andriske said.
don’t stop at re-education.
as they can.
Andriske’s reputation has spread
“I’d love to get into rehabilitation.
And in an area that figures prominently throughout Australia and abroad with
Anything I’m lucky enough to receive
in the vision of Godolphin’s founder, one of her proudest moments being
from these Awards will go toward that,”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al when the owners of New Zealand
she said.
Maktoum, they continue a tradition galloper Chance To Dance sent their
JADE WILLIS of selfless devotion in this category of “But whatever happens, I’m so thankful horse across the Tasman for her to
JW EQUESTRIAN the SSSA. for the people who nominated me and rehome when his racing career ended
for the effort that has gone into the in 2019.
Willis began her association with racing
SSSA from Godolphin, the TBA, Racing
in New Zealand in the stable of trainer With her husband Paul, Andriske has
Australia and the sponsors.”
Dave Enright who gave her a horse to funded and built a comprehensive
retrain, igniting a passion for giving old Willis’s compassion isn’t confined to complex in western Victoria where she
thoroughbreds new homes. horses. provides a temporary home for her
horses until new owners are found.
After pursuing her passion while working During the devastating bushfires of
for a number of racing and general early 2020 she also organised and co- “Depending on the price of hay, I’ll
equestrian operations, Willis formed JW ordinated three convoys that delivered have between 10 and 35 horses on our
Equestrian, a business aimed at finding fodder and equipment to farms across property,” she said.
alternative, useful, loving homes and southern Australia.
Andriske was the runner-up in the
occupations for retired racehorses.
Liz Andriske started off in the rehoming Thoroughbred Care and Welfare
As well as retraining off-track business more as a rescuer of horses who category in 2018.
thoroughbreds (OTT), and finding them passed through sales around Victoria.
“It means so much to be recognised
new owners, Willis instructs their riders
Most were headed to the knackery, but by an organisation like Godolphin and
in various equestrian disciplines and
thanks to Andriske, hundreds of horses to know that all the organisers and
competes herself in eventing.
LIZ ANDRISKE have been saved and rehomed. sponsors support what everyone in this
SPARE ONE “I started the business to give horses business is doing.”
THOROUGHBREDS a chance to be champions off the
racecourse,” Willis said.
16 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 17
NEWCOMER An Award to an individual who has worked in the industry, in any
capacity, for less than three years. The winner will display passion
for, pride in, and an excellent contribution to the thoroughbred
industry. The winner will stand out f rom other newcomers and will
be identif ied as a future and signif icant valuable member of this
industry. (This winner will not be eligible for the Thoroughbred
Excellence Award).
PRIZE: Trophy, $5,000 and a trip to Dubai for the winner, with $3,000
to the employer to share among staff. $1,000 to the runner-up.
One is praised as an immense natural “In August last year, Kelly was offered a “Alyssa never stops asking questions,
talent, the other as a young woman of start at Coolmore in Ireland and was all which is a great asset that demonstrates
unlimited potential. set to go when I was diagnosed. But she her thirst to learn.”
put it all on hold and stayed here and
Kelly Colledge and Alyssa Pickels are Pickels, a product of the Thoroughbred
kept my business going.
also commended for their dedication, Breeders Australia’s Fast Track program,
integrity and their thirst for knowledge. “She is a truly amazing individual who received two nominations for the
deserves all the credit in the world.” Awards, with TBA’s Cecelia O’Gorman
And as finalists in the Newcomer
also endorsing her talent and dedication.
category, they represent the future of The attitude that has made Colledge an
Australian thoroughbred racing. SSSA finalist reflects her approach to “Alyssa is unbelievably kind, well-
most things. mannered, dedicated and hard-working,”
Colledge joined Grafton trainer Brenden
said O’Gorman, herself an SSSA winner
Mackay as a stablehand in early 2019 “I wanted to give it a go, so I took the job.
in 2019.
with zero experience with racehorses. Now I love everything about it,” she said.
“All the qualities she showed when she
Within a year she graduated from “Being a finalist is a great thrill, an
came to the Fast Track program are the
KELLY COLLEDGE learning the most basic tasks to saving honour. I can’t thank the organisers and
same as those she displays every day in
BRENDEN MACKAY the stable from extinction, and, since Godolphin enough.”
her work.”
then, to managing the entire show.
Alyssa Pickels draws similar praise from
Pickel’s work ethic and desire for
“I know it sounds dramatic,” said Mackay, one of the industry’s most respected and
knowledge has carried her well beyond
“but Kelly literally saved my stable and knowledgeable figures, Kitchwin Hills
her job description as a Stud Hand, and
kept my racing dream alive.” manager Mick Malone.
she now plays a front-line role in the
“If she hadn’t arrived, I wouldn’t be “We hit the jackpot when Alyssa joined management of 140 mares and of other
training anymore.” us,” Malone said. stud staff at Kitchwin HIlls.
No sooner had Mackay taught Colledge “In my 20 years as manager at Kitchwin “I feel very privileged to be doing
the fundamentals of handling a Hills I’ve never seen such potential.” something I love so much,” Pickels said.
racehorse and working in a racing
Pickels, a finalist in the SSSA’s Newcomer “It is thanks to the TBA that I’m doing
stable, than he was diagnosed with a
category in 2019, is credited with having this job, and it’s incredible to now be
brain tumour.
“gone to a new level” in the 12 months involved in these Awards that the TBA,
Mackay’s illness presented some since. Racing Australia and Godolphin have
daunting challenges to the rookie created. I can’t thank all the organisers
“It’s not just me who thinks so, the entire
stablehand – and revealed her enough.”
staff rave about her,” Malone said.
considerable integrity.
ALYSSA PICKELS “From the moment she walked onto
“Kelly came to us with few skills and is
KITCHWIN HILLS the farm I knew our industry was in
now capable of dealing with almost any
good shape.
situation. Her natural talent and skills
are amazing,” Mackay said.
18 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 19A MESSAGE FROM DAVID MERRICK, “It was an honour and a privilege to win last year’s
Excellence Award and those feelings continue as a
WINNER OF THE AUSTRALIAN member of the judging panel, now having an input
THOROUGHBRED EXCELLENCE into choosing this year’s winners.”
AWARD 2019
STUD MANAGER A lifetime on stud farms and more Stable Staff Awards, a task he regards as “For me, it was an honour and a
AT WIDDEN STUD, than a quarter of a century at one of yet another honour. privilege to win last year’s Excellence
DAVID MERRICK, Australia’s most fabled thoroughbred
“So much of what we do is on the farm
Award and those feelings continue as
SALUTES THE 2020 nurseries have made David Merrick
and away f rom the outside world, so to
a member of the judging panel, now
SSSA WINNERS one of the most skilled and respected
have an award that recognises so many
having an input into choosing this
horsemen in the business. year’s winners.
aspects of our industry is a fantastic
Merrick has served as Stud Manager initiative,” Merrick says. “It is a job that is quite daunting
at Widden Stud for the past 27 years, and something of a revelation to be
“To shine a light, as these Awards do, on
during which time he has received some reminded that there are so many
such a fantastic group of people who
of the industry’s most coveted honours. dedicated and talented people doing
all do the sort of work that keeps our
so much.
The Excellence Award added a industry alive is something that rewards
unique accolade to a proud career, us all. “Congratulations to all the nominees,
acknowledging his dedication and to all the f inalists and to the winners.
“The organisers, the sponsors and all
talent to a wider audience. All of them, and all that they do,
those who nominated their employees,
deserve to be recognised.”
Merrick has added his experience to colleagues and partners for the Awards
the panel that judged the 2020 Stud & also deserve a lot of gratitude.
20 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 21OUR WINNERS FROM RACING AUSTRALIA
THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS AND THOROUGHBRED
BREEDERS AUSTRALIA
WOULD LIKE TO THANK:
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai
JUDGING COMMITTEE
Johan Petzer (Chair)
Chairman of Stewards TRSA (SA)
Melissa Weatherley
Independent
Caroline Searcy
SearcyMedia and Sky Racing channel (NSW)
Basil Nolan
President of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and stud owner (QLD)
Chris Watson
Director, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and stud owner (SA)
Troy Corstens
Thoroughbred trainer (VIC)
2019 winners (from left): Lindy Thewlis, Steve Adams, Cecelia O’Gorman, David Merrick, Joe Agresta
David White, Talia Cranfield and Warren Sutton 2018 Thoroughbred Excellence Award Winner
Peter Heagney
Former Director, Inglis (VIC)
Jenny Watson
SSSA 2016 Thoroughbred Excellence Award Winner (TAS)
Jeremy Rogers
SSSA 2017 Thoroughbred Excellence Award Winner (VIC)
David Merrick
SSSA 2019 Thoroughbred Excellence Award Winner (NSW)
2018 winners (from left): 2017 winners (from left): 2016 winners (from left):
Meg Stanley, Lee Purchase, John Livingstone, Vikki Gerry Ryan, Hayley Nichols,
Scott Eeles, Joe Agresta, Cannon, Jeremy Rogers, Ian Brady, Jenny Watson,
Peter Keating, Patrick Jane Gollan, Lyn Dressing Melanie Caban and Nikki Cook Mike Hedge
Sheehan and Hannah Dick and Kellie McCarthy Racing journalist
22 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020 2324 Stud & Stable Staff Awards 2020
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