2020 Victorian 2YOs of the Year
A key focus of our 2020 IRT Victorian Breeder Awards program are the championship awards. The full HBV committee of twelve cast votes for nominees from the 2YO Vicbred-eligible, member-bred racehorses to determine our winners in these categories. Committee members abstain from voting in any category where they have bred or own a nominee.
We thank our regular sponsors - Minitube Australia and Renown Silverware - for their onoging support in recognising this season’s babies.
2020 Minitube Australia Victorian 2YO Trotting Filly of the Year
“She has her fair share of ability this filly,” said Greg Sugars after Banglez’ Group 1 Vicbred win, “We just had to get her manners right and she seems to have done that now. She’s a bit highly strung, so she’s a bit of a revvy filly… and I thought she was going to be hard to run down.” The daughter of Majestic Son took stakes of $61,000 across the 2019-20 season with two wins and two placings from just half a dozen starts. Breeder, Blanche Poole of Rhiannon Park, is pictured here accepting their trophy with daughter Kaitlyn, and half-sister to Banglez, a yearling filly by Creatine who brought $60,000 in the weekend’s Nutrien Equine Yearling Sale.
2020 Minitube Australia Victorian 2YO Pacing Filly of the Year
Ladies In Red held the upper hand in a season-long battle with rival Tough Tilly, only bettered once – in the Vicbred Final – to record nine consecutive wins for the season. The daughter of Mach Three posted a season tally of $263,000 and a best time of 1:51.9, one of the top four new fastest times for pacers.
“She’s got that X-factor,” said Breeders Crown driver David Moran, “She’s got the speed and will to win, and she’s a terrific little filly. She just kept giving, that’s what makes her such a great racehorse.”
The early season brought victories in the Group 2 Vicbred Platinum Home Grown 2YO Pacing Fillies Classic, and the Group 2 Tatlow Stakes – a useful lead in to her crowing achievement in the Group 1 Breeders Crown 2YO Pacing Fillies Championship, and a determined second in the Group 1 Vicbred Final the following month. Ladies In Red is pictured here with breeders, Anne & Bill Anderson at their Lauriston Park property.
2020 Renown Silverware Victorian 2YO Trotting Colt of the Year
In the care of the breakout Hargreaves-Ashwood stable, Don’t Care raced in a strong crop of 2YO trotting boys in 2019-2020 but was highly competitive, securing five wins and two placings from his dozen starts, including the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 2YO Trotting Colts Final at Melton. “I liked him when he walked through the ring,” says Ashwood on his purchase of Don’t Care, “He had a bit of presence about him.”
2020 Renown Silverware Victorian 2YO Pacing Colt of the Year
The son of Somebeachsomewhere is the first foal from his American Ideal dam, Mollys Ideal, and Act Now has given her an auspicious start in the Barn. In his first season on the track, he recorded five consecutive victories which included a clean sweep of the Group 2 Vicbred Platinum Home Grown 2YO Pacing Colts Classic – in a personal best time of 1:53.2, and the Group 2 Edgar Tatlow Stakes.
“I’d really like to see him go when one does really test him and see what he can really do,” said driver Jodi Quinlan following his Tatlow victory, “He did that pretty comfy tonight.” Another of the strong Durham Park band of stock, Act Now is a grandson of Mollys Lucky Star, dam of Askmeilltellya and Our Jaguar Star.