Is star filly ‘obvious’ choice for awards?

THERE’S been some interesting debate during the past week or so as the industry counts down to ‘award season’.

Voting has closed for the national awards – winners to be announced next week – with views flying thick and fast on which performer deserves the title as Australian Horse of the Year.

Some believe the top gong should only go to an open class campaigner, stating young stars only winning against their own age doesn’t carry the same weight.

For example, King Of Swing winning the Miracle Mile is more important than Tasty Delight securing the Australian Pacing Gold Final, which is the richest three-year-old race of the year!

For the record, King Of Swing notched 11 wins and four placings from 18 starts for a bankroll of $871,870.

But eliminating age-restricted racing from award consideration doesn’t seem appropriate.

Besides, that’s what the Aged Horse of the Year award if for!

There has also been plenty of talk of Ladies In Red being the main challenger to King Of Swing for the throne.

Ladies In Red has also been referred to as the ‘obvious’ Victorian Horse of the Year.

Ladies In Red is a superstar – which can lay claim to being arguably the best filly produced in Australia – but was her season that much superior to Plymouth Chubb, for example, to consider her the ‘obvious’ choice?

Was it better than Anntonnia’s to even guarantee her Australian Three-Year-Old Filly of the Year?

Trained by record-breaking horsewoman Emma Stewart, Ladies In Red had 10 starts for eight wins and two seconds.

Ladies In Red’s victories include Group Ones – Victoria Oaks, Breeders’ Crown and Vicbred Super Series Final – for earnings of $306,210.

Anntonnia won nine of her 12 starts for David Thorn, with three placings and a time of 1:49.8 to her credit.

Anntonnia was success at Group One level in the New South Wales Oaks, Bathurst Gold Bracelet and New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge Final for earnings of $320,076.

Also third in the Group One APG Final, Anntonnia was the richest filly of the year.

Unplaced upon debut, Plymouth Chubb then won his next 14 starts to break the record for the most wins by a two-year-old trotter.

Plymouth Chubb’s wins include Group Ones – Home Grown Classic, Redwood Classic, Breeders’ Crown and Vicbred Super Series Final – for earnings of $223,930.

Prepared by Peter Manning, Plymouth Chubb also captured a Group Two and Group Three.

In the case of Plymouth Chubb, prizemoney shouldn’t be a factor, as despite costing just as much to feed, trotters aren’t afforded equal earning capacity.

Time will tell which way voters went, but surely the result is not as obvious as being touted!