TOUGH stayer Prince Vitality has given Torquay trainer Bryce Stanaway (pictured with Ray Archibald) his second Geelong Racehorse of the Year.
Stanaway who won the title with Elwood in 2004 was emotional as he accepted the award from sponsor Ray Archibald at the sell-out gal night at the Geelong Racing Club on September 10.
Prince Vitality was awarded the title in one of the closest finishes in the 13 years the Geelong Thoroughbred Club has presented the Geelong honour.
The New Zealand-bred gelding earned 23.51 per cent of the overall votes to beat the Niall Phillips-trained Costa In The Glen (22.83) and De Arias (18.72), from the Jamie Edwards and Bruce Elkington yard.
Stellar Star (13.69 per cent), King Of Ashford (10.59), Command Prince (6.84) and Kyleakin (3.84) were the other Geelong Racehorse Of The Year contenders voted for by members of the Geelong Thoroughbred Club and a panel of experts comprising selected Racing Victoria stewards, chief handicapper Greg Carpenter, and racing media.
Prince Vitality had 26 starts for the season for three city wins from 2400 metres to 3000 metres on the flat and a victory over the jumps in a Mornington Hurdle.
He also placed second twice and was third on four occasions and earned the most prizemoney of the Geelong Racehorse Of The Year nominations with $115,768.
Costa In The Glen dominated Geelong’s Most Popular Racehorse Award with 21.53 per cent of the votes cast by Geelong Thoroughbred Club and Geelong Racing Club members.
De Arias (13.27 per cent) polled solidly to be second ahead of Stellar Star (7.08 per cent), and Command Prince and last year’s winner O’Reilly’s Clock each with 6.19 per cent. Prince Vitality (5.9 per cent), Sir Walter (5.6), Bowemma (5.31) and Cocenta (5.01) were other vote catchers.
Costa In The Glen’s local owners Tim and Di Dennis were recognised for their contribution to horse racing with the presentation of the George Hanlon Medal.
The husband and wife team have bred horses since 1965 and sold the first $100,000 yearling in Victoria in 1980.
They bred Zazzman who won the 2003 Geelong Cup and finished third to Makybe Diva in the 2004 Melbourne Cup.
Others stakes winners have included Press The Button and Volitant while many outstanding horses have spelled on their Modewarre property including 2000 Caulfield Cup winner and dual Geelong Racehorse Of The Year winner Diatribe.
Another local thoroughbred breeder Brian Manley was awarded the Meggs Elkington Order of Merit. Manley bred Heath Conners-trained Chasm who was a dual stakes winner last season and is a Cox Plate prospect this spring.
John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained galloper Te Awamutu won the Dual Choice Trophy for the best performed horse at Geelong race meetings last season with three wins, a third and a fourth from five starts at the track.
2009 Geelong Racehorse of the Year– Prince Vitality
2009 Geelong Most Popular Racehorse– Costa In The Glen
2009 Dual Choice Trophy – Champion horse at Geelong race meetings – Te Awamutu (three wins, a third and a fourth from five starts).
2009 Peter St Albans Trophy – Champion jockey at Geelong race meetings – Danny Brereton (11 wins, 9 seconds, 9 thirds).
2009 Fred Laherty Trophy – Champion trainer at Geelong race meetings – Lee Freedman (15 wins,9 seconds, 2 thirds).
2009 James Wilson Trophy - Geelong Champion Trainer – Jamie Edwards and Bruce Elkington (17 wins, 14 seconds, 30 thirds).
2009 George Hanlon Medal– Tim & Di Dennis
2009 Meggs Elkington Order of Merit – Brian Manley
2009 Geelong Thoroughbred Club Owners Award– David Lawson (Escape Artist)